Trooper Station, Monday

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

Having just got back into town, Renee didn't look like she'd gotten much sleep. Or any at all, really.

"No, don't put me on hold--!" She slammed the phone down on the desk a few times in frustration. "Idiots."

Sighing, she lifted the phone to listen to the soft jazz. It didn't calm her down. She picked slightly at the cast, wondering if she should get to the clinic to see about getting this taken care of a little faster.

Comments

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

Dale was watching Renee carefully from his desk as though he was trying to read her.

"What's going on Detective?"

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

She glanced up from the phone, looking away quickly. "Had a little accident back in Gotham over the weekend."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

Dale watched her carefully. "Really," he said evenly. "Why did you go back there?"

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

"Satisfying some curiosity," She replied curtly, jabbing a button on the phone and listening again.

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

Dale stood up and walked over to Renee's desk. "Who are you trying to contact?"

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

She sighed. "Gotham Chamber of Commerce. Giving me the run around."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

Dale nodded. "What are you trying to find out?" he asked. "Maybe I can help."

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

Eying him warily, Renee said nothing for a long time as the robotic voice on the other end of the phone droned on.

"The owners of a certain address." A beat. "Renters, actually."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"Try the county auditor's website," Dale suggested. "Any property, commercial or domestic has to be noted there. And you don't have to wait on hold."

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

Snorting and shaking her head, Renee tapped her finger against the phone. "Hall of records was pretty much destroyed a little while back, Cooper. We-- they don't have a website."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

Dale nodded and headed over to the coffee station. "Any particular reason you're following up on this? Is it an old case?"

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

"Call it satisfying some curiosity before it kills the cat," She said, pushing her empty cup over hopefully.

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"Seems to me like curiosity already did some damage," Dale said motioning to her arm. "And up until last week you didn't seem to give a damn about Gotham. Is there something wrong?"

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

"Got a visitor that peaked my interest," Renee said, injured arm going to rest on her lap, out of view.

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"And broke your arm at the same time?" Dale asked. "Here? On the island?"

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

"No, the arm was Saturday." Any other bruises, save for the ones on her face, were well hidden with the outfit she picked for today. "Got in a little over my head."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

Dale frowned. "Detec-"

He stopped and frowned again.

"Renee, are you sure you don't need help?" he asked. "Whatever the situation is, there are people here who are willing to help you."

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

Nothing she wanted to drag him into. Wasn't going to be responsible for another body.

"I know. Just following it up to make sure it's done."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"Fair enough," Dale replied briskly as he gestured with a cup of coffee to see if Renee wanted one.

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

She looked away again, nodding. "Thank you."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

Dale headed back to his desk. "So who was the visitor?"

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

That got a snort, somewhere between amused and annoyed. Mostly annoyed.

"Hell if I know. Didn't have a face."

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

Dale perked up at that. "Really?" he said with a spaced out quirky grin. "That's fascinating. What was he doing here?"

[not-an-answer.livejournal.com]

"Asking a question, apparently." She was not amused.

[pieandcoffee.livejournal.com]

Dale tilted his head in curiosity. "And what question was that?"