"Case?" The woman scratched her head in confusion.
"My company is currently having a lawsuit with Epzido."
"Oh, so this is purely professional?" Asked Tracy. She then smiled, "Of course it is! Why didn't I realize that sooner. I mean, nobody really comes here looking for Mei unless it's related to work."
"Oh really?" Asked Nathan as he raised an eyebrow, "Doesn't she ever have any friends or family or …" He peered over at Henry, "A special someone?" He looked back over at Tracy, "Doesn't she have anyone who tends to drop by just for fun?"
The detective shook his head, "Nope, not at all! Detective Li is a very professional woman. She claims that having people visiting her workplace is super distracting."
Tracy rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms, "She's not doing that to be professional." She scoffed, "Mei is just hiding something from us and doesn't want anyone at work to find out."
"What could Detective Li possibly be trying to hide from us?" Asked Henry, slightly annoyed with her bold statement.
"I'm not really sure what it is but I'm definitely certain that it's something sinister. Like, maybe she's having an affair with a married man. Or maybe she's having an affair with a married *woman*."
"Tracy …" Began the detective, sounding very irritated with her assumptions about his friend, "Don't spread your nonsensical gossip to everyone."
"Oh, what's the big deal?" Tracy shrugged, "I'm just having a little fun here." The woman smirked, sounding very careless.
"Rumors like that can really ruin people's lives." Said Nathan, sounding very stern with a hint of fury in his voice, "I've met plenty of people who've had their careers and reputations destroyed due to petty, bogus gossip like that. People take those kinds of claims very seriously, especially if the accused is a woman."
Tracy's smirk faded, "Oh …" She seemed surprised by Nathan's response. The woman looked down at her watch as she took a step back from her desk, "I should get going. It's time for me to clock out." She picked up her purse and threw the strap onto her shoulder. "See you tomorrow, Detective and doctor." Said Tracy, without looking up at the two men, before she finally walked away from them. As she left the main room and entered a hall on her way to the employee time clock. As she approached the small, grey box that was screwed onto the wall and near an admiral blue door, the door opened before Mei stepped out of the staff lounge.
"Hey, Mei?" Addressed the blonde woman as she turned to look at her, "There's a man here to see you."
"Oh?" The detective seemed surprised, "He's here already?" She peered down at her watch, "But it's not even five yet."
"He must be really interested in you since he arrived five minutes early for your date." She spoke in a slightly derisive and mocking tone.
Mei rolled her eyes, "This isn't a date, Tracy!" She scoffed.
"Sure, sure!" She sneered, "Let's just hope Henry doesn't get jealous."
"What?" She looked at her in confusion, "Why would he be jealous? He's married."
"That doesn't mean he can't get frustrated when his mistress is out with someone else." Tracy punched out on the machine.
"Oh. My. God." Mei placed her hand on her face and sighed, "For the last time, Henry and I are *not* dating!"
"Sure, dear. And I'm *not* a single, stunning blonde who's great with children."
*Highly debatable!* Thought the detective as she looked at her coworker in annoyance and disdain.
"Anyways, I must get going." Tracy took a step back and nonchalantly waved to Mei, "I'll see you tomorrow. Bye!" She smiled before turning around and walking away.
The detective watched her walk away as the thick soles of her office shoes tapped against the solid, tile floor. Mei turned to face the clock and took out her card before inserting it into the machine.
*That was strange,* thought Mei, *But then again, what else was I supposed to expect from Tracy? She's so immature and arrogant. She acts like she's still in high school despite being in her forties.*
Once it was done, Mei pulled her card out and slid it back into the rack that had everyone's timecards in it.
*How did she even get the position of SRO in the first place? There has got to be plenty of parents and teachers who don't like her attitude.*
Mei turned around and walked back into the main room where she spotted Nathan standing near her desk while he was conversing with Henry.
Her eyes widened slightly in shock as she nearly panicked. *Oh, god! It's him!*
She stopped in her tracks and looked around, searching for a reflective surface. She faced a window of the staff lounge which had some beige blinds behind it. She observed her reflection in the glass as she adjusted her appearance. She removed her hair tie and ran her fingers through her slightly frizzy hair before she tied it back again. She then parted her lips as she scanned her teeth, making sure that there weren't any food particles in them. Once she was finished, Mei turned around and continued walking towards her desk.
"And that's how Dr. Kenny lost her job." Stated Nathan, in a very melancholy tone.
"Oh, dear!" Henry frowned, "That's terrible! How come nobody believed her? I mean, was there any evidence of the affair at all?"
Nathan shook his head, "No, there wasn't any such evidence uncovered. Apparently, nobody really cared much to investigate the rumors. However, most people who caught wind of it already made up their minds about the issue. Which I think is pretty hypocritical since there was another person at my workplace who actually had an affair with one of his employees but was still allowed to keep his job."
"Wait, really?" Henry scratched his head, "How come?"
"My guess is that he's a man in a position of power. He was also a very reliable manager according to other men at work. The women? Not so much. He's been known to not treat them very well but nobody really takes any of their claims seriously. When people found out that he was having an affair with one of his employees, people shifted the blame on her since her boss is a married man and she should've known better."
"That's absolutely disgusting!" Responded Henry, sounding very shocked.
"Gentlemen?" Addressed Mei as she approached them.
The two men turned to face her and smiled.
"You're back and just in time!" Said Henry.
"Hello again, Detective Li!" Responded Nathan, "Are you ready to work on this case together?"
"I …" Mei paused for a moment as she looked over at Henry.
*You got yourself into this mess. You can get yourself out.* The man smirked at her.
Mei could feel his judgement and gave him a look of annoyance, causing Henry to chuckle softly.
She peered over at Nathan again, "I just clocked out to let me pack up first and then I'll be ready."
"Ok then! Would you like me to leave and wait for you outside?" Asked Nathan.
Mei grabbed her files and placed them into her bag before picking up her jacket. She shook her head, "Oh, no. You don't have to." She put her jacket on and zipped it up before throwing the strap of her bag over her shoulder. "I'm ready!" She smiled, "Let's go!"
"Great!" Nathan turned around and began to walk away as Mei followed him.
"Have fun you two!" Henry waved at them, "But not too much fun." He smirked as he spoke in a softer voice, allowing only Mei to hear him. She turned around and gave him a dirty look. Henry laughed.
The two of them stepped out of the precinct.
"Want me to drive?" Asked Mei.
Nathan shook his head, "The diner is just around the corner. We can walk there and it won't take us long to return to our cars afterwards."
"Alright, sounds good!"