Conversation · Kim Kitsuragi

"I didn't mean to offend. It's your business, of course."

"Do you think I should?"

The lieutenant considers your muttonchops for a long moment. A slight grimace crosses his face.

"Sorry, I'm really no expert on this sort of thing..."

"Nope, we're good."

"... Alright then."

"Just as I suspected: You're no lieutenant... you're a mechanic!"

"I do like to hang around the motor pool every now and then, but that doesn't make me a mechanic."

"Sort of like how hanging around the liquor store hasn't made you into a master distiller."

"That was a cheap shot."

"My apologies, detective. I couldn't resist."

"Was there something else you wished to discuss?"

"Hey! I've been doing better."

"You're right, detective. My apologies."

"... yet."

"That's a good point. It could happen any day now."

He smells... like a man? A perfectly normal man?

Wait-wait. There's something there, something that sets your GABA-receptors aflutter.

The lieutenant's aftershave. A common drugstore brand. Strong hints of pine needle.

Strange. You're not getting any strong ideological whiffs from the lieutenant.

"Looks like we have more to discuss with those so-called Hardie boys." His voice is lowered. "Half their reasoning just went out the window."

"You did well," the lieutenant says as soon as you've left the apartment. The balcony feels cool and quiet, with a stunning view over the district.

"It's dark," the lieutenant states the obvious.

"Officer, what was that?"

"When you said before that you were down with racism -- was it meant in earnest or were you just trying to win his confidence?"

"This is not going quite as I hoped it would, detective." The lieutenant's voice is hushed.

"We should think about calling it a day, maybe? The nights are still miserably cold this time of year."

"I've been meaning to have a little chat with you about your sense of style."

"This might be just the place to help you rectify your... financial situation."

"Alright, we're finished here. Let's quickly debrief and go over what we found -- so we don't do it in front of the company rep."

"What happened to you?" the lieutenant asks as he leans in, eyes mapping your frozen face.

"Okay... About that call."

"Morning." He gives you a quick nod.

"So, the death notification..." the lieutenant says as soon as you've left the apartment.

"Any theories about what happened here?" He gazes down at the sign.

"Khm..." Having looked away during the final phase of your little episode, the lieutenant now addresses you.

"What in the name of hell was that supposed to be?!" The lieutenant is gritting his teeth.

"Orange patrol cap. I can't think of anything else."

"An orange patrol cap -- you need it."