“Hmm. This cake isn’t half bad.”
Detective Merlin was in the back of a squad car. Fortunately, he wasn’t arrested. Not at all. Rather, he was riding with two other cruise patrol officers that helped to give him a ride. As well as added security for the suspect, who sat right next to the detective.
“Miss Roads, want to try some? I have some corners I haven’t touched.”
Tessa Road shook her head. “I’m...not hungry.”
“Oh.” Merlin chewed on the party fork, and turned to the two officers in front of him. “PC 9527, PC 3686. Want some? It’s a little heavy on the cream, but decent.”
“Ha.” Driver PC 9527 waved a nah as he a chuckle. “No thank you sir.”
“I’ll pass,” chirped partner PC 3686 as she shook her head. “We’re almost there sir.”
“Hmm. Thanks. Once we arrive, keep an eye on Miss Roads while we enter her apartment.” Merlin ate on his brick of cake as the two officers nodded back. He crossed his leg in the back seat and looked at the suspect.
Tessa Roads was curled up in her seat. Head against the window, eyes closed. Hands in cuffs across her laps. One shoe on one foot, the other bare. The detective could see the black soot on the bottom of her sole.
“You alright, Miss Roads?”
“..."
“Miss Roads?”
“H-hm? What?” Tessa startled awake, her eyes drooped from exhaustion. “What did you say?”
“We’re almost back to your apartment. You don’t have any booby traps for us right?”
Tessa stared.
Merlin looked away. “Sorry. Just a little humour.”
Tessa plopped her head back into the window, trying to steal some sleep before they arrived.
image [https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/e5d49d01-e685-46aa-8d92-b07d57dc33fb/didaiyy-7cc70b06-faf9-4771-a24f-b7127efe7b76.png/v1/fill/w_1280,h_207/moon_tavern_page_break_by_suimaifiles_didaiyy-fullview.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9MjA3IiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvZTVkNDlkMDEtZTY4NS00NmFhLThkOTItYjA3ZDU3ZGMzM2ZiXC9kaWRhaXl5LTdjYzcwYjA2LWZhZjktNDc3MS1hMjRmLWI3MTI3ZWZlN2I3Ni5wbmciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9MTI4MCJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.V__LDKPGxPLEElJXKGgxKvmlMcRIG9Nv3hgCGY_VlEE]
“Th...this way, detective. Officers.”
Tessa Road led the police team up to her apartment. It was inside a well aged apartment complex in downtown. The exterior was old, on the verge of falling apart, but maybe recent renovations were made as the interior felt soft, comforting, close to homey.
The suspect would often glance left and right at every turn, to make sure no one came out of their door. When she heard keys turning, doors opening, she would dart a few steps faster to avoid any chance of being seen. It wasn’t she was trying to escape, not when her cuff was attached to the wrist of PC 3868.
After a few close calls she reached her apartment door, fumbled for her keys, and brought everyone inside. More like rushed them in, so she could quietly slam the door behind them.
Merlin was the last to stumble in as he finished up the rest of his cake. “Huh. Nice place you got here Miss Roads.”
The apartment space was simple and cozy. It had a living room, kitchen, and a bedroom, and a bathroom. Obviously not big for a family of four, or even a married couple, but definitely comfortable for a bachelor.
“PC 9527.” Merlin called over. “Would you so kindly remove Tessa’s cuffs?” After an unsure pause, the officer nodded back in compliance and he removed the cuffs from both the suspect and his partner’s wrist, freeing them.
Tessa Roads was shocked herself from the gesture. She rubbed at her wrist and gave them a grateful nod. “Th-thank you...Um...Please, make yourself at home. I-I swear, I have no traps or weapons.”
The Shaggy Mongrel looked around for a garbage can. After shoving his empty plate away he looked inside at the corner of the living room...
...And picked up a baseball bat that was leaning on a display.
Tessa stared. “...My father’s memento.”
Merlin nodded, before he tapped the baseball bat over his shoulder – for safe keeping for course.
The suspect tried to breath to regain her composure. When Merlin was out of her line of sight she spoke up again. “W-would anyone like any drinks?”
“Soda if you got any. The cake was kinda dry.”
“...A...apologies. I only have juice.”
“Five Alive then.”
Tessa opened her mouth...she gave up responding. Instead she would shuffle into her kitchen. While the detective and officers looked around the apartment, one of them would take turns keeping an eye on their suspect. She filled up three glasses of red juice, the colour of ruby glass, before bringing them out on a tray and handing them out. “F... Fruit punch.”
“Thank you kindly.” Merlin nodded to the officers to give them the okay, and they followed suit. While he sipped on the fruity beverage, he looked about some more. “How much?”
“Huh? Oh no, I won’t charge you.”
“I meant the apartment.”
“Oh! Uuh...Decent. It’s a rental.”
“Hmm?” Merlin stopped wandering to look at the suspect with a raised eyebrow. “Don’t you work in an insurance company. One of the best groups in the city, I might add. Yet you’re living in a what... 1500 square feet apartment fit for a college student?”
“...I prefer comfort over luxury. I see no reason to spend more than I need.”
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“Huh.”
Tessa couldn’t help a side glance between the detective and the officers. Their eyes on her the whole time, hands on their belt, idle for now. She swallowed her throat to ask. “Wh-what exactly are you looking for? Bringing me back here?”
“Ah. Nothing really.” Merlin scratched his back with the suspect’s baseball bat. “It’s December right? Not gonna lie but our cells have crappy heating. I thought I’d bring you back to pack up some coats or something.”
“Oh uh...Thank you, sir. M-may I go into my room.”
Merlin gestured a go ahead with the bat. “Your apartment.”
image [https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/e5d49d01-e685-46aa-8d92-b07d57dc33fb/didaiyy-7cc70b06-faf9-4771-a24f-b7127efe7b76.png/v1/fill/w_1280,h_207/moon_tavern_page_break_by_suimaifiles_didaiyy-fullview.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9MjA3IiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvZTVkNDlkMDEtZTY4NS00NmFhLThkOTItYjA3ZDU3ZGMzM2ZiXC9kaWRhaXl5LTdjYzcwYjA2LWZhZjktNDc3MS1hMjRmLWI3MTI3ZWZlN2I3Ni5wbmciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9MTI4MCJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.V__LDKPGxPLEElJXKGgxKvmlMcRIG9Nv3hgCGY_VlEE]
Tessa Roads walked into her master bedroom – the only bedroom in the complex. The Shaggy Mongrel followed while tapping the baseball bat on his shoulder like some kind of massager. In the meanwhile the two officers would sit outside on guard and check for anything out of the ordinary.
Merlin examined the room. Tessa’s bedroom had several closets, a bed, and a computer desk in the corner with just a laptop. A quick glance and the bed looked like a product one can find on a Costco wholesales store. Some decorations straight out of a Pier One magazine. Small plants, easy to raise with a bit of water every now and then.
No posters, clean walls. At most she had photo frames sitting on shorter desks and tables, revealing herself with two others. Elderly couple.
“You’re folks?” Merlin asked as he walked over and picked up a photo frame. “Hmm. You got your father’s eyes.”
“Um...Thank you.” Tessa was at one of her closets, sorting through some clothing.
“How is he?”
“..........” Tessa continued selecting clothing. The atmosphere fell heavy.
Merlin chewed on his lips and placed the photo back down. End of that subject. “...Oh-ho. Hard working girl huh?” Just as he turned about he found a series of medals and trophies sitting on a cupboard nearby.
Many of them are from her school days, marking the name of the high school and universities she attended. None of them sports, rather mostly literature, poetry, and academics. On a shelve above that were a series of crystal plaques and brass ornaments with her name on it.
----- Insurance Broker of the Year;
----- Insurance Broker Award for Young Achievers;
----- Metro City Award for Woman of Distinction;
----- Artemis Award for Life and Health Insurer of the Year;
----- Employee of the Month (x8).
Merlin whistled. “Over achiever huh? What you graduated with a magna cum laude?”
“N-no. I just...” Tessa stopped working at the closet and gave a shy look to the detective. “Um. This may be too much to ask but. Could I have a shower? A quick one? I...” She eyed her one bare foot, the entire sole covered in black from the night before.
“Huh? Oh yeah, sure of course. I mean, you had it rough last night. A shower would do you some good.”
Tessa let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, so much. I-I promise, I won’t make any trouble.”
She then quickly ran to another cupboard, pulling out some towels and fresh clothes. Meanwhile Merlin took this chance to shuffle up to the closet she was working on. He tapped the tip of the baseball bat to open the closet doors wider.
Jackets and coats, well divided and organized into three sections. The first were work attire, simple black and silver suits with matching skirt and pants. Right under neath were a series of heeled shoes. Heeled as in neither stiletto nor Mary-Janes. About two three high to look elegant but not exaggerating. The middle section were more casual jackets, made of either jean or cotton. The third section looked like jogging coats, wind breakers.
Brown, grey, black plastic buttons, and zippers.
“Say Miss Roads,” Merlin cleared his throat. “What kind of clients do you deal with?”
“Er. All kinds. Precious Life aims to serve people of all class...but if you want something specific, I handle a lot of mid to high tier clients who have um, business, run a franchise, package deals for family and spouses, and recently the more top tier people.”
“How recent?”
“About two months ago. Liam...my boss had been training me to deal with the um, high roller types.”
“Meaning you gotta look fancy riiight?” Merlin would brush the baseball bat across the various coats and jackets. “Got any bling on you?”
“...Pardon?” Tessa stopped grabbing clothing to raise an eyebrow.
“No offense but...these look rather bland, to be serving high rollers, don’t you think?”
Tessa clenched her jaw, politely. “My father always taught me, never wear boots too big or I’ll fall over.”
“What about jewelry? Any fancy necklaces, bracelets, or you know things with little glass beads or something?”
“In my experience, female clients wouldn’t like it if their agents dressed up prettier than them, right? Not to mention I know some coworkers who lost rings and earrings because their client ‘fancied’ them... You gotta do what you gotta do to meet the quota so...I don’t wear anything pricey in general.”
“Thoughtful girl.” Merlin nodded and helped to close the closet. Just as he came over, he noticed what Tessa picked up for her new change of clothing. Sweater and sweat pants, matching set. Of course her underwear – which she shoved in between top and bottom to hide from Merlin’s eyes. “...That’s it?”
“It’s more practical than my suit...” She gestures a hand on her clothing. Thin dress shirt and a pair of jean shorts. “May I?”
“Hmm? Oh yeah, yeah of course.”
Merlin followed Tessa, all the way to the bathroom. He first poked his head inside, pushing the door open with the baseball bat. Making sure no accomplice or even stalker was hiding anywhere, even the clothing hamper, he gestured for the suspect to come in. While she hung up her clothing on hooks to prepare for her shower, the detective waltzed up to her bathroom counter.
Basic skin cream, hand moisturizer. The most expensive thing in the pile was eye repair for day and night. A couple of perfume bottles with elegant designs.
“Do you often go out?” Merlin wondered.
Tessa jumped, realizing the detective was still in the bathroom. “Wh-what was that?”
“I mean, do you often hang out with friends? Girls night out? Party with some hot guys?”
“Wh-what? No!”
“Really? A young woman like you. You seem the outdoorsy type.”
“I don’t like crowded places. Loud noises give me a headache, and I can’t stand the smell of smoke in bars so, I prefer to stay home.”
“What do you even do at home?”
“...May I have some privacy to that question.”
Merlin held up one hand in surrender and backed off. He glanced at the bathroom sink again, at the collection of lady care. “Just curious, do you ever get bored of your hair style. I mean, it’s rather plain.”
Tessa stared.
“You know. Do you ever spice things up and wear a different colour every day? Every spectrum of the rainbow?”
The suspect pursed her lips and folded her hands over her stomach, fighting her urge to clench her fists and commit real murder. “Detective. I take my job very seriously. Professionalism is key. How do you expect clients to put trust in me if I changed my hair colour on a dime. I would look like a clown. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Merlin chuckled to himself as he walked away from the bathroom sink. “Any boyfriend?”
Stare.
“Cosplay?”
Harder stare.
“Okay. Say a well paying client asked you to dye your hair to be like this sexy lion babe. Would you?”
“Detective. May I have my shower now?”
Merlin backed off, period. “Sure, sure. I was gonna sneak in a pee – but I’ll hold it.
As soon as he backed out of the door – Tessa Roads slammed it on his face and locked it without mercy.