The office was still fairly quiet that morning while the two took to their desks to finish up the reports on their current findings before Barnes arrived. There was a calm air around the two while they worked in the silence of the shared cubicle. Despite still having little evidence they still worked diligently, after all it was the most evidence they had accumulated on a case since their arrival, and this time there was more at stake in the event that they failed. The young men were so engrossed in their work that they didn't notice the office gradually start to get busier or the greetings of their workmates as they passed them by.
"Boys!" Barnes' booming voice startled them out of their quiet conversation. Two pairs of intense eyes looked up at him, one cold, another vibrant and both laced with a slight impatience lightly masked behind respect.
"Chief" both acknowledged in unison.
"Ahem, I just wanted to let you know I'll be in my office when you two are ready to-"
"We'll be there in 5" Kai said as he focused his attention on the papers on the desk.
"We've been done with the paperwork for a while now, we were looking through everything in more depth to make sure we have all our angles covered and hashing out some differences" Colt added, looking sideways at his partner.
"I'll be waiting then" Barnes said with a scrawl, looking from the tousled golden hair of the one to the bright yellow shirt of the other before he stalked off toward his office.
"Alright, let's hear it" he stated as soon as they sat down and picked up the thicker case file.
"Mr Zhuang barely remembers the details leading up to time he was assaulted. He had gone out for an adulterous weekend at the golf club where he's a regular, a lady matching the description of our prime suspect gave him the time of day and he immediately pounced, he claims he only had one or two drinks which we suspect had some drugs placed them to make him incoherent. We're still speculating on the motives for leaving him alive"
"Why do you believe it was intentional?"
"Kai checked the hospital records and found the injuries caused were not systematic nor were there very heavy blows or weapons used. It was most likely the beating of an angry person who wanted to hurt the victim but definitely did not have murder on her mind. I believe this was actually a case of assault committed by another perpetrator-" Colt concluded.
"Or this lady isn't as smart as she seems, it's not like the previous murders were committed impeccably" Kai said impatiently.
"That doesn't mean-"
Barnes cut in unhappily, "I see your train of thought Colt, I'll look through the files but since aunt Woe was the one in charge I don't think your deductions could be far off. By the way you mentioned the other supposed suspect is also a lady?"
"Yes. The type of blows as well as several scratches that could only have been made by nails point to the fact, plus there was some colouring found on some scratch wounds that we deduced to be nail polish-"
"Which also could have been worn by our prime suspect-" Kai interjected again.
We'll know more in a few days" Colt concluded, ignoring the argument his partner had brought up and he'd heard since they began discussing the case that morning.
"Either way we still need to findout what our local murderer was doing there. Despite this not pointing to her it's too much of a coincidence that she was there and had contact with the victim, the fact that the assault was committed by a woman also points to her. Look, I hear both you boy's reasoning but our main priority is to get this lady behind bars and as much as you make sense Colt when this eventually gets out there's only one culprit that's gonna be on everyone's mind, so keep this possible other perpetrator between us."
"Understood sir" Colt responded barely audibly.
"By the way is there anything to add to the features of our lady friend?"
Kai looked away from his partner to face the chief, "Only confirmation of her height but nothing else of relevance as it also came from a drug induced man, but we'll have to see if any of the employees at the club have anything more to add to what we've got" he stated as his partner pulled out a brown sketch pad containing a rough sketch he had finalised the previous night, pulling a pencil out from the holder to refine some details while they spoke.
The chief's next question was interrupted by a knock at the door, "come in".
A slender figure made its way inside quietly and as she approached the desk the smell of something floral and coffee travelled to their noses.
"Sorry to interrupt, your coffees"
A smooth voice that could make the heart quiver offered while slender fingers place the cups on the table with barely any sound.
Barnes cleared his throat, "this is our new office assistant, Ria, these are our two detectives, Colt Lew and Kai Riverra"
A smile that could only be defined as refreshing spread on her lips, washing over the men like an ocean breeze, her dimples deepening as her eyes slightly sparkled. "It's a pleasure to meet you both, let me know if you need me for anything"
"The pleasure's all ours, I take it you're new in town?"
"Sort of" she offered with another smile, her dark green eyes travelling to the golden head of hair turned down in concentration with unmasked curiosity, 'even from this angle he's so beautiful' she thought to herself.
It took another cough from Barnes to disengage the one pair of eyes unconsciously waiting for the downturned face to look up and the other staring with slight coldness at the young lady.
"Well the I suppose you two can take your coffees to go, I've had Stephan book you an appointment at the club, says the room was immediately cleaned, I wouldn't expect too much when you get there, though your badges get you in, everyone there is tight lipped and there's no security cameras to aid you. Anyway; goodluck."
"Yes sir" Kai answered and shot the unmoving Ria an unhappy look before grabbing both cups and exiting the office, his body blocking the view of his friend from her dark eyes. A small smile played at her lips as she made her way out with the empty tray hugged to her chest.