The Pros of Cons

16 | Not Your Informant

TONI

"You're quiet."

We had been in the car for ten minutes without either of us saying a word... until now, apparently.

All I could manage in the moment was a shrug and a weak smile.

"Are you going to tell me what happened?"

I sighed. Why was he questioning me so much? It's not like he actually cared. I supposed it was because I was technically his responsibility, which included my wellbeing and all that.

I decided to tell him the truth — not the whole truth, but some of it. "Levi and I had a little argument, that's all."

Cons' response was silence. Classic.

I turned my head to look out the window. My gaze fell on a couple walking hand-in-hand down a busy boulevard in the middle of the road. They definitely were not supposed to be there.

"Is he... just your roommate?"

I almost thought I had imagined it but when I looked over at Cons, his face was clearly waiting for a reply from me.

"W-who? Me and Levi? Is he... uh... we're just friends," I finally said. "So, yes. Just... roommates, I guess."

Cons just nodded, seemingly somewhat satisfied with my answer. Or perhaps he just didn't want to pry any further.

"Why?" I asked, turning back to him again.

He shrugged nonchalantly. "I should be aware of those closest to you. I was never quite sure where Levi landed in your personal life."

"How is that anyone's business? Levi has nothing to do with anything."

"I can argue that. If something happened to you, we would need to question everyone involved. Friend, ex-lover, roommate – it doesn't matter. If you see them often, that's enough reason."

I hummed in response and looked outside the passenger window. I allowed silence to fill the car as I zoned out on the passersby once again.  

"So is there anything I should prepare for the lineup?"

"Just take your time with it. Sometimes it can take a while, especially if you never saw their faces. I would recommend to focus on voices. Close your eyes if you have to. Our brains are wired to remember sounds more than visuals."

I nodded slowly. "Okay... I'll do my best."

Twenty minutes later we were back at the police station. I was starting to become way too familiar with this place.

Strangely enough, I was told to sit and wait in the main lobby — which had never been asked of me before. I tried not to take it so personal. I did like to think I was more than just their average "perp." I was, after all, bringing them closer to the answers they had apparently been searching for... for years.

"Excuse me," I cleared my throat. The front desk lady had been the same one who helped me on my first day. She didn't care much for my presence then and she definitely didn't care for it now. "Can I just run to the back washroom? I've been back there before. I know where it is."

The lady barely took her eyes off her computer to look up at me. Pushing up her glasses, I noticed her name tag flashing in the sun's glare, Clara Pipps.

"Officer Pipps." I smiled. "You might remember me. My partner is Officer Conlins."

"Partner?" She grunted, sounding more like a snort. 

"Yes!" I was feeling slightly offended now. Was it so hard to believe that I could be helping the police?

Pipps gave me an uncomfortably long look, sizing me up. "I do recognize you," she finally said. Oh, yes. "You're the one on house arrest, aren't you?" Oh no.