Conversation · Tommy Le Homme

"The bosses, man."

"I don't know who these bosses think they are, but that sounds like a good arrangement -- for them."

"Yeah, it sure ain't good for me -- or you. I'd spare a coin or two for a city cop down on his luck. If I had, say, four myself."

"So you're broke. Got it. What else did I have to ask here..."

"Dunno. Whatcha need?"

"Makes sense. First work, then pay."

"Makes sense? It sucks is what it does."

Maybe don't tell people the people they don't like are actually right...

"I'm good for now, good talk." [Leave.]

"Yeah..." He makes a half-hearted salute.

"Don't be a stranger." He gives a salute with two fingers.

"I met the lady driver, on my investigation -- she's called Ruby."

"Okay..." He seems a little apprehensive.

Is it... wise to share information about the case like this, sire?

Telling him is a REALLY bad idea.

The lieutenant throws you a quick glance.

What are you doing?

"She slipped away."

"Whooh... good on her. And good on you too -- better focus your efforts on the bad guys. Mercs and such. Plenty of baddies to go around..."

"And she didn't do it -- believe me. If it's something bad then she didn't do it. Didn't know her for long but I know people."

He's relieved.

"All right. That's enough sharing details about the investigation for one day."

"Yeah, that's it. Can't share any more."

"That's probably for the best. You keep your job to yourself -- with a job like yours, you have to."

"She shot herself."

"What?"

He cannot believe it.

"She was distraught. It... just happened."

"Just happened?" His eyes grow wide and he hyperventilates. "Is she dead? Don't tell me she's..."

Dead because of me?

You've given him a panic attack. He's ill-equipped to deal with it.

"Look, man, fuck off, okay? Fuck off and let me have a panic attack. I don't need to know about this shit anymore. I can't talk to cops any more..."

He means it. This is the end of him talking to you.

"Let's go."

The lieutenant is too tired to be cross with you, he just wants to go.

"I told you not to go after her! I TOLD you." He's hyperventilating. "What happened? Is she... is she..."

Dead? He can't say it...

You've given him a panic attack. He's ill-equipped to deal with it.

"Don't tell me. Just back off and don't talk to me again, okay? I can't talk to cops anymore. I can't be involved in this shit. "

He cleans his hands of it. It's too much.

"She's alive. She shot herself in the leg trying to escape." (Lie)

"God damn, this shit is too intense for me..." He looks at his feet, steadying his breath. "I don't wanna know, man. I don't wanna know if she even got away..."

That breath of his isn't calming down. "Man, I need to take a breath here, excuse me..."

You've given him a minor panic attack. He needs to deal with it.

"All right. That's enough sharing details. Let's go."

The lieutenant is too tired to be cross with you, he just wants to get back to it.

"I'm very sorry. It was my fault."

"Sorry?" His eyes grow wide and he hyperventilates. "Is she dead? Don't tell me she's..."

"I absolutely fucked up. I shouldn't have gone after her."

His eyes grow wide and he hyperventilates. "Is she dead? Don't tell me she's..."

He cannot believe it.

"I let her go. She didn't do anything."

"Whooh... good on her. And good on you too, my man. That's..." He looks for the words...

"Merciful. Downright merciful -- you cops keep exercising that muscle and people will be more willing to cooperate, you know."

He's clearly relieved.

"She slipped away, don't worry" (Lie)

"Whooh... good on her. And good on you too -- better focus your efforts on the bad guys. Mercs and such. Plenty of baddies to go around..."

"And she didn't do it, believe me. If it's something bad then she didn't do it. Didn't know her for long but I know people."

"That's all for now, bye." [Leave.]

"Now it's turning into a... kind of a..." He searches for the right expression. "Snow limbo, man. What's on your mind?"