"-There are some crappy guardian angels out there Thomas, either they're lazy, or they just don't give a damn- many of them are so pathetic they can't even give you the Heimlich maneuver to save you from choking on some of the crap in this world- I've learned its best not to choke, then at least that useless angel can't disappoint you if you die-"
-Detective Angela MacMillan-
Back in the office Tom fell into his seat and watched Angela take a sip of her coffee, but her surprised face made him laugh "What's wrong?"
"There's no alcohol in this!"
"You shouldn't drink on the job miss Mac-mac..." He was immediately cut off by her pointing finger.
"Don't nickname me detective! We don't know each other that well"
He held his hands up then took out his canteen of whiskey "I spike it my self"
She popped her lid and held the cup to him, after Tom gave her some whiskey she seemed to calm down and sat scanning the photos again, meticulously sipping on that dangerous cup of coffee.
He decided to give her a few minutes with it then cleared his throat.
"So...?"
Her bottle blue eyes came up to him making him take a little personal gasp, his presumption about her in the bar was reassured right now, this woman was indeed a piece of art.
"What?" Her almost husky voice asked.
"I know you're putting the puzzle together, chief Warren told me you're a smartass"
Tom felt a tingle of uncertainty when a smile stretched over her soft pink lipstick lips, he did in fact expect another harsh comeback.
"Smarty hey?"
"Ignore that, I'm going to wipe clean that slate about the NASCAR and the black Chev and bust burrowed bullet"
She giggled making him smile.
"Since you are now my new partner I want to fill you in on what I have figured and what trail I'm on"
Angela sat back in her chair with a smirk "Oh? Trying to get into my good books hey?"
He shrugged "Did you know there are some law out there that states people in our line of work can't have friction? We're not allowed to get angry at each other over the soul purpose that we carry firearms..."
She tilted her head "I don't have one?"
Tom frowned "You know we have a dangerous job right?"
"Yes?"
"We ruin the lives for many evil people, I suggest you get one!"
"I have a tazer and pepper spray"
He chuckled "Oh my lord"
Angela leaned in "And for my house" she whispered "I have a pump action shotgun"
Tom burst out with laughter "Okay now I like you!"
She sat back smiling "So? Now that you like me? Fill me in partner"
Tom stood up, plugged his camera into the printer and proceeded to print out the pictures of the destroyed bathroom.
"So for the past three years this Butcher has been digging his snibbly fingers up my arse"
She scoffed "I didn't want to hear that Thomas!"
"The bugger leaves a very messy but very clean scene"
She frowned.
"No evidence to lead us to him, no fingerprints, no bootprints, no bloody hair follicles, nothing" Tom said and took out the photos.
"He made no mistakes, until now" he said placing the photos down on the table.
"Are they in these?" She asked leaning over to check.
"Well not really, this is just a side fling, the thing I'm talking about is the Butcher killed a contractor that worked for Monroe, in a building that belongs to Monroe"
"Adele Monroe? That rich jewel smuggler?" She asked.
Tom had to laugh "Yes, the big boss, she sometimes poses for her own adverts? Those billboards against the freeway? A real babe?"
"I know her dammit!" She said with a loud clicking tongue.
"Well, I'm waiting for a go ahead from Jones to take her into an interrogation"
She gave him a wicked smile during her rise from the chair "Give me five minutes, I'll be right back"
"Good luck" Tom said as she left, if she only knew what a colossal a-hole Jones could be.
He scanned the photos of the bathroom again as he waited, then not even five minutes later she stepped in holding a paper up "Tada!" She said.
"You? You convinced him?"
"Call it a woman's touch, let's go" she said grabbing her bag and leaving.
Down in the basement she stopped looking at his car when he opened the door.
"That's your car!?"
"Yes, good ol Vicky... Piece of crap!"
"I'm not getting into that piece if junk! Its a coffin on wheels!" She protested.
"Just get in! It might be in bad shape but everything inside is redone! The suspension, engine, brakes... I only need to repair its handbrake"
"Why did you pause there?" She asked sheepishly.
"Just get in Angela I'm anxious to go see Adele"
She reached out to the handle as if its some sort of grose thing she's being forced to touch, stood wide of the swinging door then climbed in.
"See? Not so bad in here?"
"Next time we take my car"
"Yes madam, as you wish" Tom snickered and set off to the Monroe building.
As they drove Angela took out a packet of gum and started chewing one, she offered him but he kindly denied.
"So, I've looked up your bio recently, I do it to all lead detectives, and, I'm sorry about your girl, Mia was it?"
He nodded.
"It must have been hard...?"
"I don't want to talk about it okay!" He said harshly.
"No need to pop a vein Snyders I just gave my sympathy"
"And you're digging at old wounds, don't bring Mia up in front of me again! Understand!?"
She blankly looked at him, still her jaw moved chewing that gum, she looked away and blew a bubble, but when it popped he grunted at her.
"Why did you even search me up!? Detectives should trust each other right!?"
"I was just curious"
"Well curiosity killed the cat! You nosed yourself into my business at the bar, now you searched up my past just to stab another lump of pain into my chest!"
"You know holding on to bad memories is bad for you, its unhealthy" she bit back.
"That so hey? I never knew my daughter was a bad memory!"
"Her death is!"
Tom felt like he could explode but held it in, regardless of his restraint Angela still heard the creeks of his clenched teeth.
She lifted her chin and slipped out that bullet around her neck, then she rubbed it a few times, Tom saw this.
"This is a memory..." She said and looked at him "It holds a little bit of ash from my late son, Luke"
Tom instantly felt like an idiot.
"He died in a car accident, traveling with his uncle"
"I... I'm sorry" he said.
She slipped the bullet back into its sweet spot then blew another gum bubble, its pop opened her up again.
"There are some crappy guardian angels out there Thomas, either they're lazy, or they just don't give a damn, we pray and hope they keep us and our family safe, but some of them are so pathetic they can't even give you the Heimlich maneuver to save you from choking on some of the crap in this world..." She looked at him with those slanted seductive eyes "I've learned its best not to choke, then at least that useless angel can't disappoint you if you die"
Tom looked at her turn her gaze to the streets again, was she really a psychiatric forensics analyst before? Shooting at guardian angels and chewing gum... She's a little too rough around the edges that's for sure.
He turned into the parking of the large skyscraper that belonged to Monroe, Angela pressed her cheek against the window to look up in order to see its height but snorted funnily "Rich people I tell you, all of them competing over who has the tallest building, its like they're trying to make up for their tiny cocks"
Tom was opening the door but halted when she said that, he looked over his shoulder at her smirk "You go ahead Snyders, I'll stay in the car"
"You sure?"
"Yes, I can't stand heights, its a phobia"
He nodded and climbed out, before he shut the door he leaned over to look at her one last time "I'm sorry"
She returned the nod "Likewise"
Author's note
So what do you think Tom will find with Adele?
Stay tuned.