The High Priestess - The Darkest Desires Series

VII

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he rest of the day had been a bust, though McQueen prayed and prayed and prayed for a miracle. He'd skipped church that Sunday morning, but had hoped while in high spirits, he would go this evening. But it was only half ten in the morning and that was looking less and less likely. The tech teams were going through the victim's online profiles with a fine toothcomb, but everyone documented their life full of nonsense and rubbish. It was hard to dig and find the real dirt.

Two, who still refused to give McQueen his real name, had now moved from Photographer to computer analysis. They'd been conferring between emails; which McQueen frustratingly found gave no real names either. Encrypted up the nose, McQueen's was simple enough; his first name initial and his former full name, followed by the stations address. Two's, which McQueen disliked calling him for the sheer rudeness, was: the word two, followed by several number two's, and what McQueen assumed were Roman numerals. Complex and McQueen had no doubt, was a joke created by the other officers. Nevertheless, he techy promised gold, but so far, they hadn't even found copper or tin.

Hale on the other hand, had walked out after the interview with Echo, nostril's flaring, shoulders hunched and with a look that could kill. He stormed away and straight to the crappy side gym they had in the station. McQueen had dared not follow. Instead he spent his time finding the address for Mrs. Farrows as well as anything in the family's finances that might suggest any other avenue they could follow. Time however, was more than happy to keep on ticking by, so he almost cried with joy when he spotted Two trotting over. He might have even sent a pray of thanks to his Lord.

"Two!" He smiled. "Tell me you have something?" McQueen asked with pathetic pleading eyes.

"McQueen...?" The lad pursed through his lips, slowing his steps slightly, before continuing. "Yer, right, sorry. I've been lost in cyber space for a little too long." The lad plonked down the chair next to McQueen's desk and gave him a look over. "Well, sure-... ok." He said cryptically, making McQueen feel uncomfortable for the briefest on moments. It didn't help that he seemed to be checking McQueen out, which was not something he was against, but he wasn't into men. At all. "I guess you'll do." Two said, slouching further in his chair.

"I'm sorry? I'll do what?" McQueen asked thoroughly confused. Now out of the rain, he could see the guy properly. Two was wire thin wearing a rock t-shirt that hung off his frame, baggy jeans and chunky skater boots. McQueen wouldn't consider it work attire, but it wasn't his job to chase that. There was something though, that he couldn't put his finger on it, but his gut - that helped with more than one case - told him something was up. The blatant staring... and the over confidence...

"Tell me it's something good?" McQueen pleaded, pushing the feeling away. Maybe Two didn't like field work, or blood. There had been a lot. Being out of one's comfort zone could easily change someone.

"Well, after I caught myself up to speed on this case-, I mean to say, all the progress you'd made, I did some digging around." Two smiled, flapping the piece of paper in front of his face. "But tell me, have you considered moving in with my brother and I?"

McQueen blinked. "I-, haven't had a moment to think about it honestly."

"Of course, of course." Two smiled. "Lots to think about. I mean, weare a part of the same station, the two of us being gay. You, a Christian."

Suddenly McQueen's gut went cold. Well of course Two had been acting weirdly. "Actually, I'm Catholic, but that doesn't mean-...I don't care if you're- you know, gay." McQueen blurted, feeling stupid as he did.