“You realize that’s what the rest of the world is doing, while we’re out here running around, looking like idiots.”
“Hopefully we don’t look like idiots. That would ruin my stellar reputation.”
She snorted at that. “Just keep thinking that.”
He glanced at her. “Grumpy much?”
“No, I’ve just been doing a lot of thinking.”
“Nothing wrong with thinking, as long as you keep it reasonable and in perspective.”
“Whatever the hell that means.” She yawned again.
As they approached the boulevard, she looked at the intersection and sighed.
“I know it’ll be hard every time you drive past this now,” Rodney said.
“I do that already at a bunch of places in town,” she said quietly. “It seems like, when you’ve already seen so much violence at one particular spot, you approach it gently.”
He nodded. “I do the same thing.”
“We know the city so well because we’re in it constantly, and we’re driving around, dealing with the aftereffects of shitty people. I’m still struggling to believe these kids are out there, picking on people who already have enough challenges, just because they can. Whatever happened to helping people just because they can instead? Why is that not a thing?”
“I don’t know. When we get them in for questioning, you can ask.”
“I don’t think they’ll give a crap.” She shook her head.
“These rich kids, I’m sure they’ll probably grow up one day. Or… do they ever grow up, you think?”
“I don’t think so. They probably just become arrogant rich entitled adults.”
As he pulled up outside the apartment building they’d been dispatched to, she stared at the big building in front of her, and she just knew. “Damn. It just had to be this one.”
“Is this the apartment where Candy lives?”
“Yeah. It’ll be her. I just know it.”
“Hey, don’t go there. Lots of people live in a building this size, so it might not be her. Remember that.”
She nodded. “I know. I know. I’m trying to be objective.”
They got out to find cops everywhere already, hanging around, making sure that nobody came or went.
When Kate questioned one, the cop shook his head. “No, everybody is still sleeping, so we were told to leave them be.”
“Good. We might get a little privacy for a bit.”
“Not likely. Somebody knows, and the word will spread like wildfire. Not to mention these emergency vehicles and all.”
He was right. She just didn’t want to deal with it. She opted for the stairs, even though Rodney had been looking for the elevator, but she shook her head. “I need to wake up and to get sharp in a hurry, and exercise will do it.”
“It’ll kill me.” He groaned, as he patted his stomach. “Too much pizza for dinner.”
“You had pizza?” she said enviously.
“I live for pizza. When did you last have any?”
“Not for way too long. Simon keeps insisting on all these weird and wonderful foods, but somehow a good old-fashioned pizza never seems to make his list. Of course when I’m alone, I could get pizza, but then I’d feel guilty, since it’s hardly a healthy food group.”