[004]

[grip_on_reality]

[when Menzies appears on the Plane, she looks far calmer than the last time. and not only has she regained her composure, but she is no longer wearing gloves. for those who know her, she looks like her normal self again--right down to seeming a bit exasperated. but that's okay because this time, she's at the bar]

[she sighs, musing to herself] You know, somehow I didn't miss the paperwork. [pouring a pint, she takes a seat] Or the DCI. [she smiles wryly] Still, nice to get back to the usual sort of cases. Robbery, a bloke's wife beat up his girlfriend, one of the Trigillans caused another road accident by shorting a car's electrical system...

And yet, somehow, here I am. [she pauses to take a long drink--but then she turns, realising there's someone else at the bar with her. she sets her glass down] And it looks like I'm not alone. Please tell me this isn't a sign that there's something new and exciting happening around here. Because if it is? I'm going back to the paperwork and the Trigillans.

Comments

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

[Conan sits back, clearly interested.]

We've met! And I take it I got the edited version of events -- what really happened?

[grip_on_reality]

Did he mention he parked his ship in the locked eighth floor apartment of a man who had just been murdered? And, since the murderer'd been dispersed into the air, he and his travelling companion were the only ones in there? Not to mention his companion disappeared, he fooled with the body, he didn't have any identification, and he couldn't give us any reason for his being there.

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

...

Is there anything he could have done to make himself look guilty that he left undone?

[grip_on_reality]

[she smirks] You know, nothing comes to mind. He even told me the cause of death when I interviewed him.

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

Ha ... no wonder he didn't want to talk about it!

So how did you work out what really happened?

[grip_on_reality]

[hah, lovely how he's giving her the credit]

You know that DNA patch I mentioned? Our murder victim had one. The Doctor told me where it was, and I removed it. And, well, you could say that opened up a whole new list of possibilities!

Then he pocketed it and pretended to be a non-murdered victim so he could walk right out of the station. [she sighs. that really wasn't her favourite part of the whole experience, especially considering how her DCI reacted] But he didn't do a runner, which, I've gotta say, was a bit of his proof in his favour.

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

[Sadly, having met the Doctor, Conan assumes Menzies is the brains of that outfit.]

Ha, I guess it would ... And so that's how you met. Does the Doctor tell you about your ... non-domestic customers?

[grip_on_reality]

[it's probably a good thing he hasn't said that to the Doctor]

[she scoffs] The Doctor doesn't exactly hang about. No, word of this whole incident got out, and then I made the mistake of helping a few other-worlders out of the goodness of my heart. Over two years later, and somehow I've still got constant new cases. [she sighs] Actually, you could say I got lucky this time--at least the mess with the Trigillan is one of my actual, on-record cases.

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

Ha ... I know an officer like that! Takagi-keiji! Even when he's taking time off, he's always getting involved in cases ... of course, that's probably because me and my friends are the case ...

[grip_on_reality]

[...well, that was an odd thing to say. clearly it's her turn to ask a few questions]

You're the case? Got a knack for getting in trouble, then?

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

We don't cause the trouble -- we just find it. Some of my classmates made a detective boys club to solve mysteries! Sometimes it's just finding a missing cat or a lost Karmen Yaiba card or something like that, but a lot of times it turns out to be connected to stuff much bigger.

And since Takagi-keiji always has time to listen to us and help us, he gets involved too.

[grip_on_reality]

[she doubts he has the free time Conan is implying, but that still sounds like quite the setup. no wonder this kid is so inquisitive!]

You know, somehow I'm not surprised. So what are you doing here? No new cases?

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

This entire place is a case!

[grip_on_reality]

[she snorts] You've got a point. Any developments?

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

Nothing really! I've met a few new arrivals and am getting to know the place better.

[grip_on_reality]

Sounds like it's been surprisingly quiet, then. Amazing!

[she glances at him] But you don't seem surprised I can be around people again. I take it your heard about the shop?

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

And I talked to Riku-niisan.

[grip_on_reality]

Ah, yeah. Was he all right when you saw him? [the question is nonchalant, but she really is concerned about the kid]

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

He was more worried about you.

Ne -- is the blindfold usual?

[grip_on_reality]

[she makes a face] Tch. Typical. [you kids, honestly!]

Yeah. But last I saw him, he said he had a headache, so whatever it is, it seemed a bit worse than usual. He didn't say anything?

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

Just that it was difficult for him to see in the light. Ne ... was the last time you saw him when he was giving you the cure?

[grip_on_reality]

Yeah--a big, shiny, red apple. Very fairytale. When did you talk to him?

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

When he was still looking for you.

[grip_on_reality]

So just before I did. I'll have to keep an eye out for him.

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

You're worried about him?