The Adventures of Two Crappy Cops

Part 2

Ack, I wasn't going to post more but now I can't stop because I'm so invested in my own writing.

"Christian! The man of the hour!" John cheered as we walked through the door to the forensics room. "Hey John hey Smitty." Christian greeted without looking up. "How'd you know I was here?" I asked I'm confusion. "Huh?" He looked up and glaces between us. "Oh, you two are always together so I just kinda assumed this time wouldn't be any different."

Did me and John really go everywhere together? I mean yeah we're close but everywhere? I shrugged and moved next to Christian who was typing away on a computer with the body of the dead girl on the table next to him. "Don't tell me you two are here to bother me more about her? Balker's already been on my ass about figuring out the cause of death and I already told him it takes time to search a body." Christian was probably the only person in the office who actually somewhat respected us. I wouldn't call him a friend by all means but he helped us and told us information before anyone else.

"You mean the cause of death is still unknown?" John asked. "Yeah, its not blunt trama, no visual wounds, and I'm not seeing any internal bleeding or wounds. It would have to be poison of some sort but I'm still working on figuring it out." "Do we have a name?" I questioned as I looked at the corpse. "Annabella Ebony, she ran a vintage store downtown on 33rd street called Ancient Beauty with her best friend Penelope Dayholt." "I'm guessing Balker already checked it out." "Yup, practically got thrown out the door when he went to talk to the best friend though." "Well he's never had much charm." John snorted as he studied multiple charts along the wall.

"We however, are known for our charm." I said and smirked at John who smirked back while Christian shook his head. "Dayholt lives in a appartement above Ancient Beauty." Christian informed us. "Thanks bud, hit us up when you discover something." I said and dragged John out by his sleeve. "Don't get yourselves a restraining order!" Christian called after us.

I dragged John all the way out to the rover, only letting go after I had opened the door and jumped in. I watched as John slid over the hood of the car only to fall and then jump back up and slide into the passenger seat. "Do you really have to do that everytime?" I said with a snort of laughter. "You know it babee~" he said with a joking wink.

"So are we gonna do good cop bad cop this time, because if we do it's my turn to do bad cop." John asked as he propped his feet on the dash and pulled out his vape pen. "Nah, she was Annabella's best friend. She's probably just really frazzled right now. Balker probably got kicked out because he's not one for hushed tones and gentle words." I said as I started the rover and pulled onto the road.

John rolled down his window and blew his cloud out of it. We really weren't supposed to vape or smoke on the drive or on duty for that matter but it's never bothered me and John kept it free of nicotine while we worked. "Alright, so let you do your thing while I just keep a ear out for anything important." He said and took another hit.

"Hey John, do we really go everywhere together?" I asked, Christian's words from earlier resurfacing in my head. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him blow another cloud out the window before looking at me with a tilted head. "I mean, I guess we do but it's not really a big deal. Is it?" His voice was tinged with worry. I shook my head, "no no it's fine. I just never really thought about it but I guess best friends do spend a lot of time together so yeah, it's no big deal."

                         ~~~~***~~~~

We arrived at the store quickly since the police department was in the center of the city. It was a two story building that was easily dwarfed by the tall appartement buildings on either side of it. Still it looked comfy. I followed Smitty inside and glanced around at the shelves and racks filled with billions of things.

All of it was indeed vintage and it ranged from a old camera to a huge ball gown that looked like it was from the 1800's. Behind the counter, which was made of dark wood, stood a girl with a red, tear stained face and blonde hair almost as bright as my own. She was holding a perfume bottle that was shaped like a crown and looked like it was made of actual glass.

"Get out, we're closed!" She snapped. "Miss. Dayholt I presume? I'm Smitty and this is my partner John, we're with the LSPD and we'd like to ask you a few questions if you can answer them for us." Smitty spoke with the most gentle, soothing tone. "I already spoke to your detective earlier. I don't want to deal with any of you ass holes, I want Annabella's killer found and locked up for the rest of their life!" She spat and glared at both of us.

"Miss, I understand that you talked to detective Balker but he's never been very understanding. We're not here to just question you, we also want to make sure you're ok to. I've spoke with many people who've lost someone close to them and I know that it's hard." His voice was so gentle I had to fight back a shiver. I have no idea how she could still glare at us while Smitty used that tone, I'd be a puddle at his feet if I was her.

Penelope glared at us for a few minutes before setting down the perfume bottle and walking past us to lock the door. She then grabbed the perfume and started up a spiral staircase that was behind the counter. When she noticed we weren't following she stopped. "Well do you want your questions answered or not?" She snapped. I felt Smitty relax beside me and let out a almost silent sigh of relief and then he flashed a comforting smile before we started up the stairs.