There was a rap of knuckles on the open front door. Aiden popped around the corner of the dining room to see who it was; Deputy Hermia was in the doorway.
"Morning."
"Good morning," Hermia gave him a quick up and down. Now that he was standing, she noticed that he was more muscular than she thought. "You...clean up well."
Indeed, Aiden had put in a bit more effort today; he had tidied up his hair, ironed his favourite coat, and don a tie today. Even his chin was clean-shaven. "Thanks. Your uniform look is sharp too." He looked at her for a moment longer. "Sorry if this is a rude question; I seem to remember your hair being shorter last week. Am I misremembering?"
Hermia raised a brow. "Most men don't notice minor details." She tugged her auburn ponytail onto one shoulder. "Well spotted, we have a very talented hairdresser in town. You should give her a try if you want to change things up. Or better yet, have a disguise made."
"Talented indeed." He pointed at the brown paper package she held. "Is that for me?"
"Your new uniform." Hermia tossed it to him, "I estimated the size and had it made. Give it a go. Bathroom's down the hall."
"Thank you." Aiden turned to his right and found two doors. The one closest to him proved to be the bathroom. It was a simple room with a sink, toilet, and bath shower. He quickly changed into the uniform and looked into the mirror on the back of the door. Hermia had done her due diligence; the uniform was a near perfect fit. The white shirt was a few centimeters or so large in the shoulders; but no matter, that afforded him greater mobility.
Likewise, the beige pants were the slightest bit long. But nothing dark socks and a proper pair of boots couldn't mask. He gazed for a moment at the six pointed star patch on his arm that read 'Idyllic'. After a moment more, he threw on his coat. It was an older Louis Vuitton trench coat in tan; strictly speaking, it was not part of the uniform, but he couldn’t help but feel naked without it. He nodded as if to acknowledge his reflection in the mirror before returning to the living room.
Hermia gave him another once over before smiling approvingly, "Not too shabby if I say so myself. How does it fit?"
"Excellent, a bit large in the shoulders, and the pants are a hems height too short. Nothing worth raising a stink about. I kept my coat. Is that going to be an issue?"
She shook her head. “Somehow I had a feeling the coat would stay.” Hermia closed the distance between them and poked the open space on his left coat lapel with a thin finger. “No matter, the badge can live here.” Aiden couldn't help but notice her perfume smelling distinctly of lily of the valley and sea salt. It left its scent in her wake.
"You know me so well already."
Hermia smiled cheekily and said, “Lucky guess.” She glanced around the empty living room. "Have you a lot of luggage? I can help you unload the truck."
"There's far less than you'd think. Just a nightstand, some picture frames, a safe, and three boxes of personal effects."
"That's not bad. Oh, speaking of effects." Hermia pulled out her service weapon and proffered it by the grip. "Our service weapon is the S&W Model 19. Yours is with Mayor Dakkar along with your badge; he will present it to you once you've been sworn in. I trust you're familiar with a revolver?"
Aiden let the weapon rest in his hand. The steel was blued and well maintained; it had a nice balance as well. Hermia had fit hers with a beautiful ivory grip that popped against her uniform. "It might take a day at the range to get re-acclimated, but I foresee no problems.” He handed it politely back. “Are we going to see the Mayor today?"
"Yes, we can go once you've unpacked." Hermia gestured towards the door, "Shall we?"
***
Some hour and a half later, the two left 424 Posy Court heading towards Town Hall. Hermia insisted on taking the scenic route. She drove her black Chrysler Enforcer, a police vehicle with the words Idyllic Township Sheriff Department. Aiden sat on the passenger side, admiring the view from the window. The area they drove through was all farmland and green pastures. He hadn't realised that Idyllic was this big and grew about 70% of their own crops. After awhile, he decided to ask the question on his mind.
“When we first met,” he began, pensive. “I distinctly remember you saying, ‘The town of Idyllic has appointed you, Detective Aiden Stone, as its new Sheriff.’ Did I misquote you?” Aiden turned to face her.
Hermia’s profile from the side was sharp; her long lashes jutted out, disturbing the curvature of her high nose bridge. Her cupid’s bow was also pronounced, leading into her full lips, which today were highlighted in a velvety mauve lipstick. Aiden sought any sign of a lie from her profile, but she gave him no openings.
“I did say that, yes.” Hermia continued to look straight ahead. “Mayor Dakkar, in this case, represents ‘The Town of Idyllic’.”
Aiden opened his mouth and closed it like a fish. He finally looked away before answering, “So the Town itself is in opposition to my appointment?”
Hermia was quiet for a moment. “Not all. You’ve just seen the more vocal ones.” She peered over at him, “What, a great detective like you baulking at a small crowd of dissenters? You’ve got more backbone than that, Aiden Stone.”
“You...keep calling me a great detective.”
She stopped at a light, “Yes.” Hermia turned her watchful green eyes upon Aiden. “148 cases solved in your first 3 years as a rookie. That’s what, give or take a fifth of all cases most detectives will solve in their entire career. Is that not grounds to call you a great detective?”
“You’re a bit scary, you know that?” Aiden massaged his temples, “That’s not common knowledge; I’d wager you’re a fair detective yourself.”
“I’m thorough when it comes to background checks; that doesn’t mean I can deduce patterns in data when there are chunks missing.”
“But you want to be a detective.” Hermia hit the brakes, slamming to a halt. Aiden hurriedly grabbed the handle on the car door. Once they came to a full stop, he gave her an incredulous face, “What on earth was that for?”
“Sheep.” Hermia pointed directly in front. Aiden turned to look. To his surprise, there indeed was a white lamb that sat in the center of the right lane. It gave the car a doleful bleat.
“Where did that...”
“Mary will be looking for that one.” Hermia pulled out her mobile and rapidly punched in a number. After a moment, someone picked up, “Good day. I found one of yours on Scarborough Fair Road, just before ‘The Still Well’.” There was frenetic excitement on the other end of the phone before Hermia said ‘you’re welcome’ and hung up. She put the car in park and turned her emergency hazards on before opening her driver's side door.
“Where are you going?”
“To move the sheep.” She said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Aiden stared as Hermia took the lamb into her arms and gently carried it to the side of the road. She gave it a few reassuring strokes on the head and backside before it began to graze upon the roadside grass. Soon enough, Hermia returned back inside the vehicle.
“Is that-”
“Common practice as a Deputy of Idyllic? You bet.” She moved her gear into drive, “Sorry Sheriff, our town is far more mundane than you’d think. There’s few mysteries to solve. Does that answer your question?”
“I see.” He finished lamely.
Hermia smirked, “I told you to accept a cushy position and focus on one big case. But look at you, you’re raring to go.”
Aiden adjusted his tie. “I’m not raring to go. I’m just, excited. About my new job.”
“Mmhm…” Hermia didn’t believe a word. She began to drive again. "Anyhow, that’s not all I know about you. I know why you’re in the rut you’re in now.” He was silent. Hermia prodded on, “You know, you’re a kind person. Many, many people turned down that case. You’re the only one to really give it a good old college try.”
“I failed.” He responded, his voice hollow.
“So what? Everyone fails at some times in their lives. The fact that you listened to the cries of those poor...” She struggled to find the right word.
“Streetwalkers.” Aiden provided.
“Yes.” Hermia agreed, “You sought to solve a case that the entire state wanted to turn a blind eye to. In the eyes of the public, a couple of dead streetwalkers meant little. But in those girls’ eyes, you are a hero.”
“I’m afraid I do not have the altruism to warrant that title.”
“No, perhaps not. So, why did you take that case? I thought you might be personally involved with one of those dead girls, but nothing in your file stated a clear connection.” Hermia took a left, she thought for a moment before continuing. “But what if... it wasn’t the girls I should have been looking at but someone closer...?”
Aiden closed his eyes, clenching and unclenching his fists. The pain of his tough fingernails digging into the fleshy parts of his palms kept him calm. She was treading on his history, like a spider racing over a pond, unaware that a fish was beneath the surface, ready to partake of his meal. Quite frankly, he felt a bit invaded. But years of temper control were kicking in, and he did not need to fight too hard to keep his anger at bay. After a few moments, he shot back with cool indifference. “I don’t know what you’re going to do with this information, but to quench your curiousity, I was born out of wedlock. My mother, in her youth, was a streetwalker.”
It was now Hermia’s turn to look surprised. Luckily, she had tact, “I apologise. That was insensitive of me.”
“It’s okay. She made a better life for herself later on. I’m sure that’s in your research.”
“I won’t repeat that to anyone, if you like.”
Aiden sighed, shaking his head. “It’s ancient history. I won’t say it’s not a sore spot, but I made my peace with being a bastard child. All I wanted was to let those girls know that someone out there cares.”
“Well, you most certainly achieved that.” Hermia smiled. “And the sore spot, well, let’s just say, I can relate.”
He turned to stare at her. “You’re parents also didn’t marry before they had you?”
“Heavens no. No, if anything, my mother looked up to my father like he was a rockstar and she was a groupie. It was a whirlwind affair. Nine months later, I was dumped on his stoop.” Hermia tossed her ponytail, looking nonchalant. “For the best really, I can’t imagine her being a good mother with how much she likes to travel.”
“Did you get to meet her?”
“No, and I hope I never shall.” Hermia was silent for a moment. “Dad didn’t have to take me in. But he did, begrudgingly, I might add. I think eventually he warmed to me though; way later down the line, he told me that I am among the ‘greatest creations of his life’.”
“That’s…an odd compliment.”
“Well, Dad was an odd person. Eloquent beyond compare, but the older he got, the less he wanted to say. He took up the position of Sheriff simply because he wanted a change. A job that was about action rather than being sedentary.” Hermia sniffed; the end of her sentence sounded choked up.
“Do you need a tissue?”
“No, I’ll be fine, thank you.”
She was a strong-willed woman, Aiden had not imagined they would share such similar humble origins. He resumed staring out the window; a large white horizontal sign flickered by. “Uh, Hermia, I might be wrong, but I could have sworn we just passed a sign for Town Hall.”
“Yes, that was the turn for Town Hall.” A tiny smile played across Hermia’s lips, “But we are going to the Morgue first.”
“...Does going there precede becoming Sheriff?”
“Well, no…but I want you to see the body first, before you are influenced by…the Mayor’s motivations.”
Aiden studied Hermia’s profile again, “So going to the Morgue first is part of your ‘motivation’?”
“Yes. After all, the victim was my father.”
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