Cloned

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Arnold POV

I walked into work with a raging hangover and the awkward remembrance of the twenty something that I woke up next to. The office seemed too loud and waiting for me at my desk was a blond haired, nervous looking woman who looked like she had graduated university. I staggered over to my desk and flopped into my chair. She turned to face me.

“Good morning Detective Arnold. My name is Detective Michaels” she said holding out her hand. “I believe that I am your new partner”. - That was the reason for the pub last night. Detective Anderson was leaving for a better job at Scotland Yard. I looked at this newcomer. She was dressed smartly but just enough as if she was trying to impress and clearly the shoes were new and not quite worn in yet.

“Your desk is over there” I said pointing to the tattered desk that till just a few days ago was Anderson's. She didn't quite blend in to the desk as I was so used to seeing my colleague and friend sitting there. I didn't like the change. I preferred Anderson.

Just as I was comparing Michaels to Anderson, Nick, the office clerk, handed me a file.

“Sorry about Anderson. He was a nice guy.” Nick said to me in undertone.

“He has changed jobs Nick, not died” I replied to him as I opened the file. “Seriously Nick? A scientist is telling us about the supposed illegal cloning of one of his scientists? This exists in science fiction not in real life.” I chucked the file back at him. “Give him a psych referral and tell him to stop wasting our time.” I said going back to checking my emails.

“if that is what you say” Nick wandered off. Just as he was about to go toward the lift, Michaels ran over to him and took the file back. I glared at her before resuming reading my email from my mother. She could waste her time all she liked but I was taking it easy. I finished reading and then replying to my mothers email about how she wanted to see me. I looked across at her and she was reading intently. Then she picked up the phone. If she was my partner then I didn't want to be dragged into this alongside her. I tried to throw down the phone before it rang through but she got there before me. Why did she do that?

“Hello, this is Detective Michaels here. I got your file across my desk today... yes... yes... I understand...would you be able to come in?” I was shaking my head frantically by this point.”... yes... see you then... bye” she rang off.

“What?” she asked my shaking head.

“What? He is an idiot who wants some attention for nothing. He obviously doesn't like his scientist so he is just is trying to get her fined or an excuse to fire her!” I shouted at her. She stared blankly on not even faltering at my voice.

“I will talk to him and if he is just some loser crying out for attention then I will send him out.” she said to me. How could she have fallen into the trap so easily? I walked back to my desk shaking my head and trying to get over her stupidity.

“You can do the interviews then.” I muttered.

“Well, I don't trust you to do them then” she shot back. Great, already we were not going to be even civil colleagues.

A few hours later, this scientist guy came in with a name tag that said Dr Jandford. He smiled at Michaels and all I could think was how much gel he must have used to smooth out his hair. She led him into the conference room but his smiles and charms were clearly making there way through to her. After a couple of minutes, she came out and said she thought that we should investigate further.

“Is that because he actually has a legitimate thing to say or because he is hot?” I asked her sarcastically.

“Because I think that he has something we should investigate and because his scientist has recently disappeared along with her assistant.” she replied ignoring my sarcasm.

“probably because she wants a holiday and he doesn't pay enough” I said to her as she picked up the phone and asked if she could have somebody to seize this scientists computer.

“Or it could be because she has done something that she shouldn't have done.” she replied.