Chapter 3: Legato, Inizio
Shiloh let out a sigh, a headache already budding between her eyes. If Genesis decided to show their face around her again she’d kill them herself. Getting her property out of holding had quickly become a nightmare. They didn’t care if she was in the middle of filling out a very important spreadsheet for work. They didn’t care if her guitar cost a fortune and was one of her most prized possessions. They didn’t care if her blankets were some of the only things she’d taken when she’d moved out, unable to give up the warm, fuzzy memories of family movie nights and neighborhood block parties. It didn’t even matter if there wasn’t any proof of the killer in her apartment. They were still going to search through all her stuff with a fine-tooth comb.
Now all she had to her name was a cardboard box and Cosmo. She was sure the only reason they hadn’t taken him into holding too was because of the blonde, loud officer clinging to his terrarium. Mica if the strange black-haired officer she’d met earlier could be believed. Maria had at least been considerate enough to give her a name, if not anything else. But the one who’d been on her side since he’d walked into the room hadn’t given her a single clue to his identity. Not that she’d struggle to recognize him if she ever saw him again.
The officer was rather…distinctive to say the least. With his pale almost translucent white skin and deep black hair. And the intense yet empty stare of his blue eyes, like staring into the stained glass of a church window and seeing nothing behind it. He looked like he hadn’t had a good meal or night’s sleep since the day he was born. Along with the silver cross the size of her palm that he wore across his neck. But most distinctive of all were his scars.
One jagged scar twisted all the way across his face. Starting just under the purpling bags of one of his eyes and slashing across the bridge of his nose, then dipping down his right cheek to end right below the lobe of his ear. There was a very similar scar on the inside of his hand that darted across it and up his arm. She wondered if there were other, similar scars underneath his shirt.
Shiloh would recognize him easily, either out in public or back at the station. Strange as he was. But despite all of his quirks she felt indebted to him. It’d been awhile since someone had shown her the simple kindness of helping her.
Right now, though, she needed to focus on getting to her new hotel room. They’d set her up in a neat if plain room, towards the middle of the city. Much louder and busier than her apartment near the coast. But she had to remind herself that beggars couldn’t be choosers. At least she didn’t have to worry about rent here. Cosmo and his terrarium had already been moved and set up with the help of Mica. And a stoic black officer, Silas, who said less than ten words the entire time. And that included his self introduction. But he had seemed happy enough to carry the terrarium and Cosmo’s care supplies up to the top floor and hand her things when she asked. Mica, on the other hand, hadn’t stopped talking once. Though they had quieted their voice while holding Cosmo to avoid startling him.
They’d both disappeared without a proper goodbye when their phones beeped with a message; off to solve more crimes, help displaced victims, or whatever else they did. Leaving her with a cardboard box filled with basic essentials to carry to the hotel. Shampoo and conditioner (almost guaranteed to not be made for her hair type), bodywash, a blanket, toothpaste and a toothbrush, a hairbrush, a phone charger, a few changes of clothes, and an old laptop and charger they’d given to her after her complaints. Not that it would help seeing as all her work files were saved externally.
Her arms buckled under the weight as she walked through the crowds separating her from the hotel. Shiloh couldn’t even drive from place to place, not with her truck being in the shop. So she was stuck lugging her things on foot. This was probably hell for whatever security detail they had on her. After all, how could protect her if she got lost in a crowd?
Shiloh readjusted her grip on the ends of the box as she turned the corner, only to smack directly into an oncoming stranger. A yelp tore out of her throat as she was knocked out of her thoughts and onto the ground. The box flew out of her hands, spilling its contents everywhere.
“Shit!” she swore, struggling to sit up. Before she could turn around and start scrambling for her things, a hand appeared in front of her. Attached to that hand was a woman, leaning over her.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there! Here, let me help you.”
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