Non-challenge: A Policeman's Tale (Day 42)
Title: A Policeman's Tale (Day 42)
Author: ytak
Word count: 1050
Rating (chapter): K+ (PG)
Rating (whole story): T (PG-13)
Comments: I find it almost amusing that I'm writing about freezing, lousy weather when the weather here (Houston) is hovering around 100 F with little rain in the last two months.
Other chapters can be read through here or here
Day 42
The relatively pleasant weather of the previous day had given way to freezing rain over the course of the night, coating all unprotected surfaces with ice.
By far, Takagi thought, this has to be the worst weather this year. He shivered inside his coat, despite the heater going full blast in the office. He did not need to look around to see that other officers were also bundled up against the unexpected chill.
Once, Takagi thought he heard Megure asking higher powers for there to be no trouble today. The rain was more than enough trouble.
“He's right,” Chiba muttered behind Takagi. “I've heard the traffic department is having a very bad day. I'd say that was putting it mildly.”
Takagi nodded and suggested, “It might be a good idea to stay away from Yumi-san today.”
Chiba paled, “Yeah, she would be in a bad mood. I know she doesn't like cold, wet weather. The accidents won't help.”
The two officers quickly turned away from Megure as he looked up and swept a piercing gaze around the room. He was mad and, in their anxiety, Takagi and Chiba did not want to be the ones to draw Megure's ire on the off chance they made eye contact with the inspector.
Takagi forced his attention to the preliminary autopsy that he had been handed that morning by Sato shortly after he walked in. The report supported the initial assumption that the victim had been strangled and then dumped in the pool. There was no fluid in his lungs or any other signs associated with drowning, just the signs of strangulation, which were never pleasant to see.
Underneath that report was the information request from second division regarding the burglaries at Takagi's apartment complex more than a week ago. The rough description of the burglar seemed to match the victim.
But no one really got a good look at him. Takagi put down the report and propped his head on hands as he leaned against the desk. I wonder if any abandoned motorcycles were found? Quickly, he scribbled a note down to ask the traffic department about that. Then he noticed that Sato had stuck a post-it to the paper with the same thought and that she was inquiring about that.
A smile crept onto his face. That was one of the reasons Takagi was attracted to her. She was clever and got things done with no fuss. The intensity of her drive to see justice done was something Takagi admired and, over time, had discovered attracted him.
He was not sure how long his mind drifted but the moment it came back to the task at hand, he had to blush. This was neither the time nor place to be daydreaming! He quashed the urge to look around and see if anyone had noticed him space out. With any luck, I won't have looked like I was love-struck and was thinking about work instead, he thought.
Focusing his mind on the case at hand took a few minutes, a quick trip to the bathroom, and a stop at the coffee machine. The stimulating smell of the coffee off to the side helped clear his mind and he focused back on the case. There was not a lot to go on. With no identification, they were left trying the victim's fingerprints with the hope that they would be in the system.
A quick police sketch visualized the man as he would have looked in life. Looking at the picture, Takagi could tell that it was not going to get them anywhere unless the man had some odd habits or ticks that would stick in a person's mind because he had, quite possibly, the most forgettable face Takagi had ever seen. The victim was average in so many ways that, if someone needed an average Joe, this person was the man they would come to.
The victim's clothing was very distinctive. On that alone, there was a chance that he might be identified. He died wearing a proper motorcycle outfit, complete with what looked like a customized leather jacket.
He noted that Sato had not yet made any comments on it, so he scribbled his own thoughts on a post-it and stuck it to description.
His desk was roughly jolted a second latter, nearly spilling his coffee. He leveled a glare at the officer who had bumped his desk. While Takagi only caught the other man's face as he turned away, he could see that the other officer was... mad.
What can he be mad about... oh, Takagi realized. His partner was Sato. Any officer who was partnered with her and had the least non-work related interest in her tended to get the rough edge from everyone else. Takagi scowled. That is no excuse to nearly get the case reports ruined because of a little jealously.
After his desk was jarred a few more times (but none as badly as the first time), he was sorely tempted to move to one of the filing rooms, if only for the privacy.
To his relief, the reappearance of Sato put an end to the subtle bullying. She was scowling as she, not quite, stomped to her desk. Takagi judged by the lack of papers that she had not had any luck with the traffic department. Well, there is still a chance that something will turn up, he thought, collecting the file and moving to talk to Sato about the case. And we are not completely out of leads. We just don't have any really good ones.
Sato's scowl dropped away as she caught his eye. “What do you think of the case?” she asked.
Takagi shrugged, put the files on her desk, and grabbed a spare chair to sit with her. “Not a whole lot of leads. The victim's clothes are pretty distinctive. They might be custom. We could check out local outfitters.”
They both looked out the window at the distinctly unpleasant weather. “But, first, let's get a list of places drawn up and call them to see if they do custom orders,” Sato slowly suggested. Takagi could hear the unspoken comment, 'so we aren't running around too much in such lousy weather.' He wholeheartedly agreed to the plan.