The Art of Being Right

Back To Arkfield

"It's pointless going back there, Spence. We can't get a warrant to search the place and everyone there is all to damn aware of it!" JJ sighed, hands resting on her boss's desk as she tried to pursuade him out of his latest idea. But it seemed as if the Superintendent wasn't about to change his mind any time soon.

Wilson had been in Little Wharton for just over two weeks now. In that time he'd spent practically every waking minute with JJ, looking over the case and finding his way around the small town. They were yet to visit the moors, but JJ had promised they would go at some point over the next couple of days so Wilson could see the area the were going to have to cover.

They'd got closer over the time he'd been there, talking generally about anything and nothing, just getting to know each other. JJ still couldn't help bursting into hysterics every time Maddy called, asking questions about the girl he was staying with. McKein had found out about JJ, and had wanted every detail from Wilson about her. Jo hadn't seemed too interested; she called every few days asking how the case was going and sometimes asking him a couple of questions about cases of her own. Hart kept him busy with e-mails of photos of crime scenes, but in and amongst the chaos Wilson had often found himself kicking back on the sofa with JJ watching crappy tv shows to pass the time.

"JJ, look. We have Wilson with us now," he justified, glancing sideways at the city detective who was watching the conversation with an amused look, "he might be able to get somewhere with it. Even if it is just with questioning."

"So now you're saying I'm incapable?!" She snapped, temper flaring. The second she said it, Spence's face dropped in panic as his tried to justify himself.

"No! Of course not, I'm just trying to get us any information we can get our hands on."

JJ huffed, but she knew the argument was done. She shook her head and stood upright, chewing the inside of her cheek like she always did when she was wound up.

"Fine," she agreed, "but if I have to talk to Conan again, and he tries it on I will punch him in the face then stuff that fancy-ass lab coat down his throat."

To which Wilson bit his lip to stop himself from lauging; JJ was beginning to grow on him - she was a fiery character to say the least. With a nod she gestured for him to follow her out of the office, leaving Spence alone behind his desk with a slight sweat building on his forehead.

"So what's so bad about this Conan guy? He's a doctor at the facility right?"

"Elliot Conan is the biggest, most arrogant, obnoxious and self-centred alpha male on the planet. He's under the impression he's God's gift to women, and the world." Wilson chuckled at the description - it somehow reminded him a little of McKein.

"So Arkfield, then."

"Ever heard of it?"

"Yeah plenty of times. It's a big thing back in the city, not that anyone knows what's going on there. Something about genetic experiments."

The drive over to the science facility was mind-numbingly quiet. They both went in JJ's car, seen as it made things more convenient for the security checks. And besides, Wilson didn't want some bloke with a gun running his hands all over his Harley. After almost half an hour of silence they reached the gate border and were pulled over at the checkpoint.

"Can I see some ID folks?" The guard approaching the car said, one arm held protectively around a sub-automatic hanging from his shoulder. Wilson pulled his credentials out of his jacket pocket, handing them, along with JJ's to him. With a grunt he shuffled back to the office to run the names on the badges, leaving Wilson and JJ sat in the car with a thoughtful expression on both of their faces.

He returned moments later, handing back their ID and waving them through.

"God that was edgy," JJ sighed, following the road leading up to the main entrance to the labs, hands loosening their white knuckle grip on the steering wheel.

"You really got that worried over a security check?"

"You didn't?!"

"I travel a lot with cases. You get used to the intimidating stares and 'scary-guys-with-guns' after a while. It's tedious now, more than anything."

JJ raised her eyebrows at his answer but didn't say anything more as they parked up. The pair exited the car and strode purposefully towards the automatic doors a few feet away - before they were greeted by a thin, lanky man in military uniform.

"Officer Knight," he sneered, "I figured we'd be seeing you again. And I see you brought your boyfriend this time?" JJ gritted her teeth and rested one hand on her hip insolently. Her right hook was for Conan, she couldn't waste it on one of his weedy lackeys.

"I'm here to see Dr Conan. It's important."

"So who's this?" The man in uniform mocked, tilting his head sideways with a manic grin, ignoring her almost entirely.

"This is Detective Inspector Crowley. He's here to help with the investigation."

"You're not from around here, are you?"

"No. I'm not, and I'd rather you take us to see Dr Conan now, rather than asking us ridiculous questions." He responded, tone edgy.

"Ooh, he's sweet. Like a little guard dog. But just keep him on his leash right, I'd hate to see him wander off onto the moors and get hurt."

"Was that a threat?" Wilson glared, eyes narrowing slightly as his gaze met the man stood in their way.

Wordlessly the man in uniform gestured to the doors a few feet away, not pushing the argument further. The tall building ahead loomed over them menacingly, the long shadow casting a grim black shape on the concrete.

"You may have to wait a while. Dr Conan's busy doing real work."

"Oh so you're an asshole too? Isn't that just fantastic." JJ groaned under her breath, forcing a stifled chuckle from Wilson, who slyly concealed it as a coughing fit.

JJ glanced at him through her long eyelashes, a smile on her lips. Maybe working with Wilson was going to be pretty fun after all.