Keeper

IV. Iron-Scorched Pieces

Morgan's visitors from earlier in the morning looked equal parts confused and suspicious to see her leaving out the hospital's front door. "Ms. Black, fancy meeting you here," Velez said, running her fingers through her own dark hair. Morgan was adept enough at people-watching to recognize that expression: Velez knew that the keeper somehow didn't fit and was trying to make sense of it. There was going to be a lot of that look in the detective's future, if she decided she was going to investigate one Morgan Black. 

"Yeah, just saying hi to a friend who's not doing too well," she said. It wasn't exactly a lie, so she didn't feel too bad about it. Morgan had long ago made her peace with the fact that she was going to use a lot of half-truths if she stayed in her line of work. They were easier to remember than total fabrications. She tucked her hands in her jacket pockets, fighting the urge to pull out a cigarette. It would probably just make her look nervous, the last impression that she wanted to convey. Today she was dressed a little more casually, in jeans and a forest green oxford with a white undershirt beneath.

"You don't have work?" Velez's partner said with a raised eyebrow.

"Took a late lunch to drop by," Morgan said a little vaguely. She was going to look suspicious no matter how she sliced it, so she decided to just roll with it as best she could. "Busy with your investigation, I take it?"

"Yeah," Detective Velez said thoughtfully, still eyeing the keeper. 

"We should get on it," her partner said, clearly coming to the decision that while weird, it wasn't beyond belief that Morgan had showed up here. She knew that she'd be seeing the detectives again in the near future, probably as soon as they finished talking to Mr. Wilson. 

"Have a nice day, Detectives," Morgan said with a smile, starting off down the street. It was a nice, crisp autumn day out and it almost seemed a shame to catch a cab, but she didn't really feel like strolling all the way down to the Plaza. Maybe a short walk was in order, though.

She made it maybe four blocks before she realized she was being followed. She stiffened a little bit as she caught sight of Velez just a little ways behind her in the reflection of a store window and fought back a sigh. The woman was clearly trying to be unobtrusive and was doing a pretty good job, but Morgan was just lucky enough to catch a glance. Damn it, Morgan reflected. At least she would probably lose the detective if she took a cab. She pulled out her phone again and called for one. She'd have to wait a little bit, but she expected Velez to keep her distance and just watch.

Velez, however, was a woman who defied expectations. She approached openly when she saw that Morgan had stopped. "Ms. Black?" she said politely but firmly. "I want a word."

The keeper sighed and tucked her phone into her back pocket. She turned to face Velez. "What about, Detective?"

"I saw you in the graveyard, last night," Velez said. For all her tough police attitude, there was uncertainty in her expression. "And I saw someone else with you. Someone strange."

That was definitely a surprise and it meant, however unlikely, that Velez had the Sight to at least some degree. She'd probably caught the flicker out of the corner of her eye and not really understood what it was, presuming she wasn't trained. Morgan cleared her throat. "Look, can we not talk about this here?" the keeper said, keeping her tone patient. She wasn't sure exactly where to go with Velez where they wouldn't be overheard. The office was full of things that would give the woman a heart attack and so was Riverside, her main two safe places. "How about we get a sandwich or something?"

"A sandwich?" Velez said skeptically.

"Yep," Morgan said, transferring her phone to her jacket pocket when her cab pulled up. "Unless your other half can't handle an old man?"