Fighting Harvest

Chapter Seven

The two detectives made their way to the heart of the city, the Mayor's Office. Its location wasn't in the best of places though, with crowded traffic even on the best of days, which was an inconvenience for Anthony who drove the two around the block several times in hopes of finding a parking space. Eventually, Clyde pointed out a spot available on the side of the road, Anthony tried his best to parallel park into the space, which in the end looked all crooked and wrong, but it was too late to fix it.

Anthony took a moment to relax as the traffic around the area was quite thick, due to everyone leaving work and school, but none of that mattered to the two detectives, as they were summoned to speak to the Mayor, who was probably waiting.

"We should get going now" Clyde broke the relaxing silence to remind Anthony why they were here.

"Give me a moment" Anthony grumbled, stretching his arms as he rolled his head along his shoulders, wiggling out all the stress and tension of driving for the time being. "Alright, let's go"

Clyde was quick to exit the vehicle, standing on the sidewalk as he watched Anthony avoid oncoming cars which passed him by way too closely, his trench coat picking up wind as Anthony swiftly rounded to the front of the car and joined Clyde on the sidewalk, fixing his clothes. They took a moment to determine which way they should go, eventually picking a direction and walking, having quite a ways to go before they reached the Mayor's office.

They stayed quiet for the most part, Anthony shoving his hands into his pockets as Clyde messed with the skin around his fingernails, looking down at the ground as he watched his feet pull him forward. Anthony sighed softly before speaking up.

"How's your family doing?"

Clyde was somewhat confused by the question, mostly asking why Anthony would care about his family, but it was a pleasant surprise.

"Oh, uh well, they're ok" Clyde shrugged, looking forward as they rounded a corner. "My mother fell not too long ago, she's doing fine but she's staying at the hospital... my brother and father are there with her" he explained, holding a blank face as he didn't know what to feel or express in a moment like this, but just simply spoke.

"I'm sorry about that, I.. um.. I hope she gets better" Anthony didn't know how to respond, knowing Clyde's parents were getting up there in age, so the sensitive subject wasn't something he could joke about.

"No it's fine" Clyde pulled on a smile as he looked up at Anthony, knowing he was trying to be sentimental in his own weird way. "How's your family doing?" He asked in return.

Anthony couldn't help but groan at the mention of his family "I don't know, probably fine?"

"Are you not in contact with them?"

Anthony shook his head, glancing down at Clyde "No... but I don't mind, feelings between us are mutual I guess, nothing bad or good" he somewhat explained as Clyde felt bad, knowing he could never survive in a world where his family wasn't around... which made being a detective all the more harder, having to deal with grieving parents and loved ones regularly.

"Well, you got me!" Clyde tried to cheer up the mood "I always have your back, you know, no matter what" he reassured, wanting Anthony to be comfortable reaching out to him when he needed help, not as a job partner, but as a friend.

"You're way too sweet for this job, you know" Anthony joked with a laugh, the corners of his mouth curling into a soft smile as he appreciated the offer, but knew he wouldn't take it as Anthony was way too stubborn to ask for help or allow himself to pour his emotions.

The two, now in a better mood, approached the heart of the city. Crossing the busy road, they made their way up the steps leading to the Mayor's Office building. The interior was just as grand as the exterior, with beautiful patterned flooring and paintings along the wall to break up the simple coloring the walls had, looking quite professional.