"Let's start from the top."

"Let's start from the top."

"You humiliated me. I don't care what your political beliefs are, but you painted me with the same brush. Publicly."

"I have been defamed over live radio. That has never happened to me before. And it never will again."

"If you ever dare do anything like that again -- even close to it -- I will have you sanctioned. That was abhorrent."

This hurts. It should. Apologize and try to make it right.

Say nothing.

"Let's finish this case." The lieutenant shakes his head. "I want to be done with it, now."

"There's no doubt the twins heard Speedfreaks FM," he says, still tempering his anger. "I still don't know how, without a radio -- but they did."

"Hold up, Kim. Aren't you going to say anything about meeting your radio heroes?"

"Nope."

The final word on this matter has been spoken.

"We're not any closer to knowing how they heard it, though, are we?"

"No... We're not." The lieutenant's gaze travels toward the coast, toward the fishing village so far away.

"I mean, a weird voice in my head said to talk to the kids. Maybe it's related?"

"I don't think the voices in your head are related to this, no."

"But it didn't sound like one of my thoughts. Sounded like a lady."

The lieutenant gives you a long look.

Sincere worry, officer to officer. He feels you need help and regrets that he doesn't know how to offer it.

"I don't know what to say to that, or what you want me to say. I'm sorry."

"Did we ask where the kids were when they heard the voice?" The wind picks up, blowing a stray strand of the lieutenant's hair out of place. He smooths it back.

"I didn't. Sorry."

"No need to apologize. I was just going to say it'd be a good idea to ask them."

"And, detective..." He turns to you. He smiles. "Thanks for this. It's been interesting."

"Nope."

"We could ask where the kids were when it happened."

"Are you criticizing me, Kim?"

He sighs. "No. I was just thinking that it'd be a good idea to ask them."

"Probably not. Sorry, Kim."

"Guess we're stuck then."

The lieutenant turns his attention away from the coast, back to you.

"Not necessarily. We've learned something. No idea what. Something, at least."

"Spooky shit. But what does it... mean?" (Squint in thought.)

"I don't know what it means." The lieutenant's gaze travels toward the coast, toward the fishing village so far away.

"I just said what was in my heart. I can't apologize for passion."

"You don't surprise me anymore, officer." The lieutenant's gaze cuts through you. "Let's finish with this case. I want to be done with it, now."

"I fucked up. I'm sorry. Can I make it up to you?"

"No, officer. Short of undoing it, there's nothing. Let's just finish this case."

The road to healing is going to be a long one. Stay the course. You will make it, some day.

"There's no doubt the twins heard Speedfreaks FM. I still don't know how, without a radio -- but they did."