[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019e8243-27d1-7331-978a-99ae0cb6dd64.webp[/img][/center]

[color=6ecff6]"You look like shit, when was the last time you slept?"[/color]

A look of shock and disgust crossed Dusks face, as he tossed the plan paper bag on the desk. A significant grease stain at the bottom of the bag, and as Andrew opened the bag the tell-tale aroma of one of Sandras finest speciality burgers infiltrated and spread out throughout the room. There weren't many people who could eat in autopsy, with a dead body mid-disection at the other side of the room, though Dominic doubted that Andrew even thought about it anymore.

[color=slategray]"Probably sometime around, two thousand and fifteen-"[/color] He pointed over to the table where Paloma Torres lay disected, like a discarded jigsaw puzzle. [color=slategray]"-Does old Buckley know you eat down here with a [i]visitor?[/i]"[/color] 

Andrew waved his hand dismissively and swallowed a mouthful of burger, before placing it back in the bag carefully and folding the top over. [color=6ecff6]"I'm just sampling the merchandise. Just testing the quality of the bribe."[/color]

[color=slategray]"Is bringing your old friend and colleague lunch considered a bribe?"[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Depends if the one giving the lunch expects information on an active criminal investigation?"[/color]

Dusk shrugged as he walked over to the body on the table. A tendril of guilt crept from the shadows and up into his chest. Gripping his heart and squeezing it, subconciously he lifted his hand to his chest and scratched his chest to get rid of the feeling. Surprisingly he felt his chest lighten, but he didn't pay much attention to the sensation or lack thereof. Instead he looked down at the body on the slab, the body that was there because he had failed in his duty. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out two brown envelopes, both sealed with an old wax seal. Engraved with a decorative pair of wings and the initials P.T. One was addressed to him, and the other was a [i]Two whom it may concern[/i].

[color=6ecff6]"What's that you've got?"[/color] The uneven footsteps followed him over to the table, Andrews fascination more on the envelope than the body. Dusk filtered between them in his hands and offered him one, Andrew was a whom who often had concern.

[color=slategray]"Updated last will and testemant, all signed and sealed. It also includes the wishes for her body. She wants to be a tree."[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"A tree?"[/color]

Dusk shrugged as he looked down at the body. [color=slategray]"Apparently that's a thing you can do now,"[/color] he slipped the other envelope back into his inside pocket. [color=slategray]"She was always a bit on the weird side. I mean who even uses wax seals anymore?"[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"I think its whimsical."[/color]

[color=slategray]"You would."[/color] Dusk retorted sardonically.

[color=6ecff6]"I'm sorry, which one of us is a walking cliché?[/color]

The two stood there for what felt like hours in silence, it was Dusk that broke it first. Clearing his throat and turning back to Andrew. [color=slategray]"So what can you tell me?"[/color] Andrew rolled his eyes, and walked back to his chair, spinning around and grabbing the burger before spinning back to face Dusk. Mouthful of burger he started.

[color=6ecff6]"Same as all the others. She's been cleaned, [i]exceptionally[/i] well. There is not a spot of dirt on here anywhere-"[/color]

[color=slategray]"Anywhere?"[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Did I stutter?[/color] Andrew raised his hand, lifting a finger as he went. Counting off to prove a point. [color=6ecff6]"Under the fingernails, toe nails, ears, mouth, nose and well,"[/color] he cleared his throat awkwardly. [color=6ecff6]"Let us just say, no stone was left unturned and whoever is behind this is [i]very[/i] thorough."[/color]

[color=slategray]"That's never a good thing. Especially as she phoned me before she went missing, she said she had a -"[/color]

The door opened with a hiss, and Dusk winced to himself as he recognised the gait coming into the room. Her voice raised, filled with contempt.

[color=#D0D2C4]"Just what the [i]hell[/i] do you think you're doing?"[/color]

Dusk pointed to himself, then to Andrew innocently. A look of a child whose hand was caught in the cookie jar upon his face. Lucy crossed her arms as she stared him down, whatever she had been doing before she came here, it didn't have her in a good mood.

[color=slategray]"Lunch delivery service?"[/color]

[color=#D0D2C4]"Funny."[/color] Lucy pointed to Andrew, and then a thumb to the door. [color=#D0D2C4]"You, out."[/color]

Dusk and Andrew looked at eachother, before they both spoke and made a bee-line for the door. "[color=slategray]Y[/color][color=6ecff6]e[/color][color=slategray]a[/color][color=6ecff6]h[/color] [color=slategray]w[/color][color=6ecff6]e[/color] [color=slategray]s[/color][color=6ecff6]h[/color][color=slategray]o[/color][color=6ecff6]u[/color][color=slategray]l[/color][color=6ecff6]d[/color] [color=slategray]g[/color][color=6ecff6]e[/color][color=slategray]t[/color] [color=6ecff6]g[/color][color=slategray]o[/color][color=6ecff6]i[/color][color=slategray]n[/color][color=6ecff6]g[/color]"

Lucy held up her hand infront of Dominic as he attempted for the door, and he had to conciously stop himself from flinching or wincing. [color=6ecff6]"I'll see you later Dom,"[/color] he walked out the door, nodding politely at Lucy on his way out, and she returned the polite nod. Her pale blue eyes were ice cold as they bore down into his skull. She stood there staring at him for a very uncomfortable minute, as if he was just going to come out and spill all his secrets unprompted and unwarranted. There was a period of time when he would have withered under it, crumbled fell and broke. Not anymore.

[color=#D0D2C4]"Just what do you think you're doing butting into [i]my[/i] investigation?"[/color]

[color=slategray]"I think you'll find that I was actually involved in it first, she was my client afterall."[/color]

[color=#D0D2C4]"Then perhaps you can tell me why? That could be pertinent to [i]my[/i] investigation."[/color]

[color=slategray]"Check your records, there was a report made. Assuming the desk clerk even bothered, he wasn't too interested when she stopped by before."[/color] Dusk tried to move passed her again, but when she moved to block him he spun on his heel and walked backwards to try and create some distance between the two of them. 

[color=#D0D2C4]"You realise there was a time when you actually trusted me to run an investigation,"[/color] She spoke softly, but he didn't turn to bring back eye contact. Instead he just looked down upon Paloma. Peaceful, yet tortured. Her hair had been a variety in colours in the time that he had known her, she was never one to settle down and take things easy. He should have known this would happen, a bird was never happy when it was caged. [color=#D0D2C4]"You need to trust me."[/color]

Dusk still didn't look up from the closed eyes. [color=slategray]"You'll need to earn it."[/color] He looked up at her, his face blank and expressionless. [color=slategray]"She came to me because her fiancé was missing, back when the greys started going missing. Your desk clerk told her he likely just got cold feet and he would show up in a week or two. He didn't."[/color] He walked straight passed Lucy in the doorway, she didn't move to stop him. [color=slategray]"Thats all you're getting from me."[/color] As he waited for the elevator he was expecting her to come after him, to chase. Some small part of him wanted her too, he squashed that part back down. As the doors opened he stepped in, pulling the envelope back out from his pocket. Dusk broke the seal, and tipping the open envelope into his hand he looked down at the small appartment door key and he nodded.

Paloma wasn't done just yet, she had found something and Dominic Dusk wasn't going to let that be in vain.