Declan
The chatter coming from outside the homicide unit offices was loud. Not that I wasn't used to loud but it had been nearly a month since I was in that atmosphere and I had forgotten what it could be like. Everyone spoke at once but somehow perfectly understood each other.
There were phones ringing and the loud sound of a coffee grinder coming through the closed glass door. I could see a few of them as they sat by desks, went to printer machines and others gathered around desks. To be honest it was an extremely small unit.
I counted five men at once.
Incredibly small unit.
Sheriff Boggs turned to me with a smile, "I know what you're thinking but up until a few months ago we only had two murders in the town every three years. Homicide wasn't our key budget area."
"I can tell," I tried to keep my tone light and unaffected but even to my own ears it sounded drained and painful. This was going to be exhausting.
Boggs chuckled and opened the door, he let me enter first before following behind me. The moment we stepped in the chatter in the room died down and five curious pairs of eyes settled onto us. I kept my face neutral and waited for Boggs to introduce me.
"Men, this is Detective Declan as you know, make him feel welcome," Boggs spoke with authority which made me wonder why.
All of them came to stand in front of me and introduced themselves as we shook hands.
"This is Jason Young, he'll be your second lead detective," Boggs placed his hand on the man's shoulder. He was probably older than me. In his late thirties, chocolate skin with a mischievous and charming grin. His eyes were slightly downturned which made him have the effect that he looked disinterested even if he wasn't.
A perfectly square chin and perfectly faded haircut that showed off just an inch of his curly hair. He was tall with a white button up shirt, a navy blue tie that was already slightly loosened on his neck, brown belt and beige slack trousers with surprisingly outdoor hiking boots.
"Nice to meet you," I smiled.
"Same here, nice to have someone from a big city around for once," he chuckled and I quickly detected an accent.
"Boston?"
"Yep, moved here two years ago when everything went to shit," he smiled.
That had me chuckling. I could tell Jason and I were going to get along just fine.
"Micheal Jones, head of homicide weapons investigation," he shook my hand with a firm, great handshake grasp. He was strong build with olive skin, a great beard and a short buzz cut. His eyes were a dark brown that were intense that matched his title.
Followed by that was three younger detectives Donny Davidson, twenty-five, with strawberry blonde hair that looked like it was cut with kitchen scissors, an innocent smile and pale skin. Jay Reider, twenty six, served in the military for a while. Caramel skin, short cut hair and a business friendly smile.
Alex Mariotta, who was originally from Huawei and moved here when he was in his late teens. His hair was shoulder length and slightly wavy, high cheekbones and nearly golden eyes.
It was a young team with fully experienced members and others that were still new to the field.
"Those shoes ain't going to get you anywhere," Jason pointed out my formal extremely shiny shoes.
"They'll do just fine," I smiled but quietly observed everyone else's. Even the Sheriff wore hiking boots but I figured that was what most people preferred.
"We'll call him Shiny," Boggs chuckled, "you know New York City folks and their fashion." That got a chuckle out of all the men as I rolled my eyes. "Let me show you to your office. You all can get back to work now."
The men went back to their cubicles and I was led to the private smaller office towards the back of the room. Dark wooden door, a large window with blinds that showed off a partial view of the rest of the office and didn't make it feel as small as it really was.
A well used wooden oak desk that had probably seen better days, however the black leather chair looked ridiculously comfortable therefore it made up for it. There was a new computer and desktop on the table. As well as a cup of pens. A steel file cabinet and a few boxes filled with papers that were practically spilling out.
It had a bit of a dearie smell to it but I guessed nothing here never ever didn't smell like damp.
"It's not much but you're more than welcome to change it up to what suits you. Darell had been here for a while and there weren't many homicides to solve before so it was pretty much abandoned," Boggs tried to smile but it came out more like a grimace.
I was trying desperately hard to find something nice to say but nothing came to mind therefore I just settled for, "it has good bones."
He chuckled and nodded, "you can get settled. I'll ask Bianca to bring over your badge and take you to the weaponry for your gun and ammunition. You won't need it much here but it's always good to have one on hand."
I nodded, "thank you."
He gave me a nod before he left and stopped by to have a quick chat with Jason. Donny and Jay's eyes curiously looked into my window but instantly looked away when they met my eyes.
I understood the interest. What did a top detective from Manhattan want in a small town where the biggest crime so far was someone stealing a loaf of bread from a bakery?
Sometimes I questioned myself too.
Just as I put my briefcase on the rickety table, the legs startled dramatically swerving and the entire thing collapsed with an anticlimactic 'thud'. Just my luck.