2021-11-28 - Sour News

The Chief's been in his office most of the morning. Door shut, on his phone with a look on his face like open that thing at your peril. Now, he's slouched forward in his chair with his thumb and forefinger pressed into his temples while his coffee goes cold beside him. His phone rings again, and he ignores it.

There's no knocking. Just the entrance of a short blond in a sleak gray skirt suit. It's heels today, too, but less clacky than usual against the hard floors. Honestly - she looks good. Even better than usual. Hair is very recently done. Blouse is a bit loose under her open jacket but unwrinkled.

"We need to talk," she says in a soft but flat tone when she enters. She invites herself to sit in a chair across from the desk. Her posture is straight with her knees together and hands folded primly in her lap.

There's no immediate reaction to the door opening, or the blonde walking in. Not until she sits, and addresses him in that tone. And then he eases back in his chair with a sigh, and his eyes come up finally, and he takes note of the fact that, yes, she does look good today.

"What do you want," comes out with a little more gravel and a little less bite than usual.

Cassidy looks to the door to make sure it's closed, but also to look away while she takes a breath and prepares herself for the conversation to follow. "Look - this is a professional curtesy. I'm going to need you to keep your cool and not blow up at me. It's out of my hands."

She looks back to him to see if this is a challenge he can accept.

He watches her steadily throughout, dark gaze unwavering as she glances to the door to compose herself. Then, in the silence that follows, a presence that she is not privy to; as if they've been joined momentarily by something else in the room. Prowling, stalking closer to her. Him, and yet not; lightning and fire and teeth and claws and--

"Fine. Fuck's sake, I'm not a fucking child." It's gone. He blows out a breath, reaches for his coffee, and makes a face when he sees it's gone cold.

She isn't too convinced about /that/ and she definitely didn't notice any shifts in the atmosphere. Just last week she was tearing her hair out because everyone 'in this God damn place' can't 'remember anything to save their own dicks from falling off'. And that's just something all the glimmer-folk about have to have empathy for and live with.

"The City Council is going to vote next Thursday to put you on suspension. The Gazette has been shopping around for comments on Officer Higgins' suicide note - which was somehow leaked to them." She sighs, "Between that and Ben McNeely's murder, the city is looking to put a head on a pike. I think it would be a good idea if you got out ahead of it."

There's a soft snort in response to that. "You and I both know I've got nothing to do with Higgins and McNeely," mutters the cop as he shoves his cup back onto his desk and pushes to his feet. His laptop's shut, and he crosses to one of the filing cabinets against the wall, which is unlocked and tugged open. After some thumbing through it, he fishes out an unmarked file which is clearly sorted in the wrong place. Maybe he's just that disorganised. "Here." It's tossed atop his desk. "You'll want this, too. You can probably do more good with it than I can, at this point."

Cassidy is careful with her words. Because she's a lawyer. Not just a lawyer, but a lawyer for the state. "I want to believe you're one of the good guys, Javier. But this isn't something I have any influence over. The City Council is..." she eyes the file. "What is it?" She leans forward to slide it off the desk.

"A lead on the Cameron case. I don't want it getting into the wrong," Read, corrupt, "hands, and the chain of evidence winding up mysteriously dirty and inadmissible in court, or some shit." He closes the drawer and locks it, tonguetip run along his teeth as he considers for a moment or two.

Then sighs heavily. "I'll draft up a statement tonight." It's not like it's any secret that he never wanted to be Chief in the first place. Maybe this is secretly a relief to him.

Cassidy stands and tucks the file into her purse. "I'll take a look at it in my office..." meanig the little broom closet she was given down the hall.

How easily he is taking this scenario has her grow in incredulity. Her eyes narrow slightly, mostly out of curiosity. "Javier?"

His phone's going off again. Javier ignores it, again, as he sinks back into his chair. He directs his attention back to Cassidy instead. "What?" comes out soft, and a little rough-voiced as he rubs inked fingers through his scruffy beard.

Cassidy reaches the door and has her hand on the knob. She is looking at Javier. She says softly, "You're going to need a lawyer."

And that's it. She's gone.