At this time of night, the detectives’ bullpen at HPD was fairly well deserted as Noelani made her way through the corridors. There was still one desk occupied though, and it was to that one that she headed. Its occupant lifted his head at the sound of her footsteps, his customary smile at recognising her approach fading quickly when he saw the look on her face. Still, his eyes fell to the file in her hand, hope springing eternal.
“Doctor Cunha.” Even though there was nobody else around, Gordon still kept it professional. “Did you find anything.”
Noelani dropped the file with the autopsy findings on his desk. It was depressingly thin. “Nothing,” she said. “Enough to confirm that it’s likely the same suspect as the other two girls. But no new evidence, nothing that’s likely to give you an identity.”
Gordon flipped open the file, his eyes scanning quickly down the opening page. She stayed silent, watching him as he moved on to the second, then close the file, his long exhale of breath moving the whole thing a half an inch across the table. His chin was propped on his right hand while his left pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.” He shook his head but still didn’t look up at her. “Three girls, Noelani... they’re Dennis’s age. Did you know he and his friends are organising shifts so that the girls never have to be alone?”
Part of Noelani thought that Dennis and his friends were both very brave and very thoughtful to do that. A larger part was revolted that they had to. She had no doubt that Gordon was firmly in the latter camp. “I didn’t.”
“They’re kids, Noelani. They shouldn’t have to think of things like this. We’re supposed to keep them safe.” He sighed again, dropped his face into his hands.
A cold hand reached around Noelani’s heart, squeezed tightly. This was the first time she’d seen Gordon like this and she instantly decided she hated it. Taking a step towards him, she looked around and, assured that they were still alone, she came to stand behind him, let her hands come to rest on his shoulders. They were huge knots of tension and she rubbed at them gently until he straightened a little, moved his hands up to cover hers. “Come home with me,” she said quietly. “We can order takeout on the way... play your cards right and I’ll throw in a back rub afterwards.”
Gordon chuckled softly at that, his hands squeezing her fingers. “That’s the best offer I’ve had all day.” He shifted on his chair and she lifted her hands to let him spin around and face her, leaning back in his chair so that he was looking up at her. She took his hands in hers, lacing their fingers together.
“And if you’re really good,” she teased, “I’ll even let you rub my back.”
His smile was nowhere near what it usually was, but considering the day they’d both had, she’d take it. “Definitely an offer I can’t refuse,” he said, standing and dropping one of her hands to grab his jacket from the back of her chair. “Let’s go home.”
Fill Magnum PI Noelani/Katsumoto
“Doctor Cunha.” Even though there was nobody else around, Gordon still kept it professional. “Did you find anything.”
Noelani dropped the file with the autopsy findings on his desk. It was depressingly thin. “Nothing,” she said. “Enough to confirm that it’s likely the same suspect as the other two girls. But no new evidence, nothing that’s likely to give you an identity.”
Gordon flipped open the file, his eyes scanning quickly down the opening page. She stayed silent, watching him as he moved on to the second, then close the file, his long exhale of breath moving the whole thing a half an inch across the table. His chin was propped on his right hand while his left pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.” He shook his head but still didn’t look up at her. “Three girls, Noelani... they’re Dennis’s age. Did you know he and his friends are organising shifts so that the girls never have to be alone?”
Part of Noelani thought that Dennis and his friends were both very brave and very thoughtful to do that. A larger part was revolted that they had to. She had no doubt that Gordon was firmly in the latter camp. “I didn’t.”
“They’re kids, Noelani. They shouldn’t have to think of things like this. We’re supposed to keep them safe.” He sighed again, dropped his face into his hands.
A cold hand reached around Noelani’s heart, squeezed tightly. This was the first time she’d seen Gordon like this and she instantly decided she hated it. Taking a step towards him, she looked around and, assured that they were still alone, she came to stand behind him, let her hands come to rest on his shoulders. They were huge knots of tension and she rubbed at them gently until he straightened a little, moved his hands up to cover hers. “Come home with me,” she said quietly. “We can order takeout on the way... play your cards right and I’ll throw in a back rub afterwards.”
Gordon chuckled softly at that, his hands squeezing her fingers. “That’s the best offer I’ve had all day.” He shifted on his chair and she lifted her hands to let him spin around and face her, leaning back in his chair so that he was looking up at her. She took his hands in hers, lacing their fingers together.
“And if you’re really good,” she teased, “I’ll even let you rub my back.”
His smile was nowhere near what it usually was, but considering the day they’d both had, she’d take it. “Definitely an offer I can’t refuse,” he said, standing and dropping one of her hands to grab his jacket from the back of her chair. “Let’s go home.”