[b][color=9e0039][h1][center]Calvin Lovegrove[/center][/h1][/color][/b]
[color=9e0039][h2][center]The Apartment of Danielle Raymonde[/center][/h2][/color]

[i]"...I wish you great success in the future, may it not be marred by an untimely and murderous end— or worse, a toxic disposition.”[/i]

Calvin stared at the floor, a surge of embarrassment and simultaneous calm washing over him. Detective Gallagher stammered out of the room. Dani's face remained completely deadpan until the antiquated buckles on the elevator clapped into each other. He was gone.

"You fucking idiot!" screamed Danielle as she violently slid her ashtray across the table, an array of murdered cigarettes and ash raining onto Calvin's pants.

"I'm making do with what I have. I can't be of use to you if you're going to antagonize the NYPD. There are egos far worse than Gallagher's under that roof. Trust me. If you rile them up enough, they'll dig until you'll [i]want[/i] to tell them the truth." Cal frowned at his slacks and casually brushed off the ash.

"You have to believe me when I say that I had nothing to do with any of this," said Danielle, a hint of desperation beginning to wear through her relentless frustration.

Calvin sighed put on his hat and returned his fixation to the floor, failing to meet Danielle's eye. "I don't think you killed anyone." He sighed. "But I know what you look like when you lie. There was extremely little in the way of truth in your speech."

Danielle folded her arms. "You -told- me to create a story."

Calvin stood from the couch and narrowed his eyes. "I told you to forge an alibi, not lead the detective to a complete dead end. There's something different about this case, baby doll. I can't be sure of anything anymore."

Danielle's expression sank and she sat back down. "Do you think I'm keeping the truth from [i]you[/i]?"

Calvin straightened his hat. "Mhm. I have no doubt that this investigation will bring us back to you again... And next time, I will be walking through that door as a detective of the NYPD, not your janitor."

Danielle pointed toward the door. "I think you should leave."

Calvin strolled toward the door and tossed on his jacket before walking out the door. Dani leaned against the doorway and stared wistfully, as if she did not intend for him to return again. Calvin sighed and plopped a cigarette into his mouth before singing the end. He released a huff of smoke. "Leave town. This case has disintegrated everything it's touched."

"No."

"Then I can't protect you."

"You've done a pretty shitty job at that as it is."

Calvin said nothing more. He strolled toward the elevator and took one last glance back at Dani under his hat before entering the doors.

***

Detective Lovegrove found Ashley leaning against the wall outside. "They signed me up with you so that you could keep an eye on my behavior...but I think it's you that needs the babysitting. The fuck's gotten into you?"