[i]Wow JJ, that’s one hell of a set of lungs you have. Definitely almost a turn on...[/i]

Vin mused, as the escorting officer finished re-cuffing Vin’s wrists in front of him to use the restroom, and suddenly stopped short of opening the door. Jennifer’s part was played perfectly, albeit, a bit too perfectly, as her agonizing shriek travelled down the corridor that lead to the restroom, alerting a few of the officers that were travelling through the crossing hallways. 

“Yo, Jenson, was that coming from the holding area?” One of the passing officers asked the cop escorting Vincent.

“Yeah, I’ll go check it out, don’t worry about it. She’s not going anywhere…” Jenson said in a nonchalant manner, inciting a nasty facial response from Vin. 

“Do you treat every inmate with such a level of disregard?” Vin asked matter-of-factly. 

“Nah, just scumbag murder suspects, and just for that…” He started walking back toward the holding cell. “...your restroom break is over, buddy.” 

“What?...we didn’t even make it into the restroom yet?” He said, as the escorting officer pulled him along by the arm.  

Both men were heading back toward the holding area, when a man who looked like he could have been a detective from a bad episode of some second-rate primetime cop show came barrelling around the corner, and then slowed to a stop, holding his badge out. 

“Officer…” The detective squinted as he looked at the uniform cop’s name badge. “...Jenson. Detective Michaels good to meet you. This man is under my custody at the moment so I’ll take it from here. Great. Thanks.” 

Both Vin and the officer had a rather perplexed look on their faces, and most likely were thinking the same things. It was as though this sharply dressed guy came right out of nowhere and suddenly had jurisdiction just for waving a badge around that may or may not have even been real. 

“Um, yeah, I don’t think so buddy, no matter who you think you are.” The officer scoffed, trying to maneuver around the detective, pulling Vin in tow. 

[b][i]”Officer Jenson, this is Brandt, come in please.”[/i][/b] A voice came over the officer’s radio, causing him to stop and open the channel. 

“Yeah boss, go ahead.” Jenson responded, a bit confused by the sudden call.

[b][i]”A Detective Michaels should be on his way to the holding area, and will need to interrogate the prisoners. Please cooperate with him until this blows over. Brandt out.”[/i][/b]

Jenson let out a deep sigh, shaking his head in irritating. “Copy that, sir” He said hesitantly and let go of Vincent’s arm.

“Okay then Detective, he’s all yours. Good luck, because this one is a total pain in the ass.”  The officer turned and started walking back down the corridor. 

“Trust me officer, he’s not the pain in the ass I’m worried about.” Michaels retorted, half-smiling. 

Vincent gave the detective a stern look and raised a quizzical eyebrow. “So...what is this all about? Because I’m not cool being passed around from cop to cop like a two dollar whore.”

Michaels shook his head. “Look, I was never here, first of all. Second, we have a mutual pain in the ass who’s going to do his damndest to help you and the young lady.”

“Nate?” Vin’s eyes became wide. 

“Yeah, unfortunately for you two, he’s about the only friend you guys have at the moment.” 

“He’s not that ba-” 

“Yes, he is. He is [i]that[/i] bad and more.” The detective cut him off and leaned in close for a moment. “And if I were you, I’d get yourself and that girl as far away from him as possible when you’re out of this shit storm. He’s bad news, and you don’t want any part of his life.” 

Michaels turned to head toward the holding room doors. “Let’s go.”

Vincent kept in step with the detective, mulling over what he’s just laid on him about Nate. He didn’t know Nate that well, but at the same time, he had no reason not to trust the kid yet. And besides, he was basically in the same boat as Vin & Jennifer, and needed to find answers to everything that’s transpired. But what if this Michaels character was right. What if there was a lot more to Nate than either one of them knew about...

Both men slipped through the holding area doors and were inside. The detective briskly walked over toward the empty cell and pushed the door open, and Vincent hustled over toward Jennifer’s cell door. Vin had a renewed smile across his face, extending his hand out toward her through the bars. “Jennifer…”

“Whoa, chief, where are you going? You need to be back in a cell for this to work.” Michaels scolded.

“Then put me in here with her, what’s the fucking difference?” Vin snapped back.

“Are we really going to have this conversation, tough guy? Because I can definitely call this whole thing off and all your sorry asses can burn in hell. How’s that sound?” 

“Fuck...” Vincent pulled his arm out from between the bars and walked into the neighboring cell, the door slamming behind him. 

“Besides chief, I don’t need you two getting any inappropriate ideas that are going to jeopardize this shit operation any more than it already is...”

[@Xandrya]
[@Subject Zero]