Arias welcomed Commissioner Gordon into his home and led him into the living room, offering him a seat before leaving to prepare the coffee. He returned several minutes later, setting a mug on the table for him.
"Thanks," Gordon muttered, taking the cup. He wasn't a talkative man by nature, and the atmosphere felt off to him. After all, he and Arias weren't close, and his opinion of the young man was neutral at best.
"You're welcome. You definitely needed it." Arias carefully chose his words as he took a seat on a separate sofa. He knew that Gordon might become uncomfortable if he pried too much into his problems. Instead, he aimed to be a listener, creating a comfortable environment where Gordon might open up on his own.
"Is it that obvious?" Gordon took a sip from his cup and sighed, unaware of the subtle manipulation Arias was already employing. The commissioner had a lot on his mind, and anyone in his position would want to vent those problems, even if they didn't realize it themselves.
Arias had created such an environment with a simple mug of coffee and light conversation. To Gordon's question, Arias nodded and feigned a concerned expression.
"It is, and from the looks of it, it's something serious. It's not my place to pry, but you shouldn't let whatever is bothering you linger. I'm speaking from experience."
Arias's words were carefully crafted to draw Gordon into a conversation. First, he showed concern, making Gordon feel that his well-being mattered. Second, he avoided asking Gordon directly about his problems, showing that he wasn't nosy. Finally, he subtly mentioned his own experience with similar situations, making Gordon more likely to share in hopes of finding a solution.
After a brief silence, Gordon couldn't help but ask, "You're young, so I'm sure you know how teenagers work far better than me. What… what does it mean when a girl at that age has a breakdown or at least something like it?"
The commissioner was hesitant and still didn't reveal too much, but with the knowledge Arias already had, he could fill in the blanks. It was easy to conclude that whatever had happened between Barbara and Bruce the previous day had hit her hard—far harder than Arias had initially guessed, judging by the helpless expression on the commissioner's face.
"In this day and age, a lot can cause a girl in her teenage years to suffer a breakdown. However, the most common causes involve bullying, heartbreak, or depression. To narrow it down, you need to look at the signs. For example, was the girl normal and happy in the days leading up to the breakdown, or did she show noticeable changes over time?"
Arias's fake analysis hit home for Gordon, who was already thinking along similar lines. The commissioner became more engaged, especially since Arias's words made sense to him.
"Normal, definitely normal. No warning at all. I'm also sure the cause has to be one particular thing, but I don't know what."
"If that's the case, then it likely isn't bullying or depression—those would have shown signs earlier. That leaves only heartbreak. One moment the girl is happy and normal, then suddenly she's in tears. If it happened on bad terms, it could even cause anger and lead to a fit of rage."
The more Arias's words matched Gordon's observations, the more the commissioner believed he was speaking to the right person. Gordon became less hesitant and asked outright, "Then, will she be better? How can it be solved?"
Some eagerness crept into Gordon's voice. He had completely forgotten that he was talking to a stranger about his personal affairs. Any loving parent desperate to save their child from an incomprehensible situation would do the same, if not more.
"She'll need to heal and forget. A mother would likely notice and give insight on the matter from a girl's perspective. That would help. After all, the girl can't turn to anyone else, and it's that feeling that makes them feel even more hurt and miserable."
Gordon got his answer, but it wasn't one that made him happy. Arias had done his research on Barbara, including the fact that she had lost her mother. By mentioning a mother figure, he gave Gordon hope, only to crush it, making the commissioner desperate for another solution.
"And if the girl has no mother?" Gordon asked in a very deflated tone, looking as mentally exhausted as he had before.
Arias finished his cup of coffee and stood up. "Simple—the father will need to be that distraction. He just needs to take her away from the root of the problem for a few days. It could be a camping trip outside the city, maybe visiting a tourist attraction in another state. The options are endless. However, it has to be done as naturally as possible. If the girl feels that everything is being done for her sake, then she'll find it hard to relax."
Gordon took Arias's words to heart. It sounded like genuinely good advice, and he was grateful for it.
With that done, Arias saw no point in prolonging the conversation. He had taken advantage of an unexpected opportunity and gained a slight edge in his relationship with the commissioner.
"I'm about to go shower. You can let yourself out whenever you're done."
This was Arias's final play—a way of ending the conversation while leaving Gordon with the impression that he was a dependable, albeit distant, acquaintance. It wasn't friendship, but it was enough of a gain for Arias in exchange for a few minutes of his morning. As for what advantages this might bring in the future, only time would tell.