Mason
I woke up before the alarm goes off.
*ring*
*ring*
It's not discipline or anything, it's just an habit, years of early calls and bad news trained my body better than any clock ever could.
I turned it off, as I let out a yawn.
My apartment is quiet except for the air conditioner and Oliver snoring.
I lie there for a minute, staring at the ceiling. I can't believe Damian is actually back, and I can't believe he's actually going to help me finally catch Demon Salazar.
I'm still skeptical about his help, and how he was able to get the pictures but maybe after today's dinner everything will come to light.
I need this win.
I turn to my side and saw Oliver staring at me with sleepy eyes.
"I'll go shower first, then you, and then we'll go have breakfast before we go to work" I told him, he nodded his head and took his phone in his hands.
I swing my legs over the side of the bed and sit there until the floorboards chill the sleep out of my feet.
The mirror in the bathroom doesn't lie. My hair is growing out, faint crease between my eyebrows that never quite smooths out anymore.
I splash cold water on my face and let it drip into the sink, cold is good, the cold keeps you awake.
I got out of the bathroom and Oliver immediately got inside.
I dress the same way I always do, pressed shirt, dark slacks, jacket that's seen more stakeouts than I care to count.
My badge goes in the inside pocket, my gun rests against my ribs like an old, unwanted companion.
Minutes later and Oliver is out of the shower and fully clothed.
We have spare clothes at each other's house just in case we have to sleep over.
Once we stepped outside, I let out a sigh, the air smells like damp pavement and diesel.
"Should we drive or walk to the coffee shop?" I asked Oliver as we stood in front of his car.
The coffee shop is just a few blocks away, it's pretty walkable.
"We won't find any parking space anyways, so let's just walk there, eat and come back. Then I'll drive us to work" he shrugged.
The morning traffic hasn't fully taken over yet.
A couple joggers pass by, pretending they're not watching everyone around them. I walk with my hands in my pockets, scanning faces out of instinct. It never really turns off, you have to be careful about everyone and everything.
The bell above the coffee shop door gives its usual half-hearted jingle when I push inside.
Warmth hits me first-
"I love coming here early in the morning" Oliver said as he let out a sigh of joy.
Then the smell, fresh grounds and toasted bread. It's the one place in the neighborhood that feels untouched by whatever ugliness I deal with all day.
I make sure to keep this place safe from any kind of trouble.
"Morning Detectives" Maria calls from behind the counter before I even reach it.
"Morning" I answer, shrugging off my jacket. I don't have to order. She already knows.
"Good morning Maria" Oliver said as he gave her a wink, Maria just rolled her eyes and turned her eyes back to me.
Black coffee, strong enough to stand a spoon in, beef bacon, egg, and cheese on a toasted roll. Nothing fancy and I don't want to eat too heavy because you never know when you're going to have to be on your feet.
"You already know my usual" Maria just side eyed him and gave our others to the chef.
I take my usual seat by the window, back to the wall.
Old habits.
Our foods came and we thanked the waitress.
I watch the street while I eat, Oliver is rambling on about something, I watched a delivery truck double-parks, a kid arguing with his mother about a forgotten homework assignment.
A man in a suit checks his watch like it personally offended him, he's probably late for some meeting or for work.
Maria drops a small refill at our table without asking. "Long day ahead detective?"
"They're all long" I say as I have her a small smile.
She gives me that look, the one that says she knows I won't say more and she won't press.
That's why I like this place.
"But somehow it always turns into an amazing one, especially when we start our day with seeing your face" Oliver flirts.
"Detective Moore" she looked at me as if reporting my best friend to me.
Maria is a fifty year old woman, she opened this small coffee shop ten years ago and we've been coming here ever since.
Oliver has made it his mission to flirt with her every single day, and the flirting has increased ever since she divorced her husband.
"Oliver stop it" I said laughing at how she glared at him.
She scoffed at him and walked away.
"You better leave that woman alone" I said as I went back to eating.
"Excuse me for appreciating God's work. That woman is beautiful, I still can't believe she's fifty" he said as he watched her go back to the counter.
Oliver is two years older than me, while I'm 42, he's 44 years old.
I just shook my head.
I finish the last bite, wipe my hands on a napkin, and leave cash under the cup.
The bell jingles again as I step back into the street. The warmth disappears.
Oliver and I went back to my apartment building, we got into his car and he drove us to work.
The precinct building comes into view at the end of the block.
I pause at the door just long enough to finish the last swallow of coffee. The bitterness lingers.
Then I toss the cup in the trash, straighten my jacket, and step inside.
Just as I was about to sit at my desk.
"Ah, detective Moore" Captain smith called for me as he stepped out of his office.
"Captain Smith" I greeted with a nod to which he responded with one.
"How was your night?" He asked, I replied and we had a short chat before he got to business.
"How is the jewelry thief case going?" He asked me, I gave him the file and told him exactly what Oliver and I talked about last night.
"And you're certain he did this?" Captain asked as he looked through the evidence.
"Very sure, 100 percent" it was then that Oliver walked over to us, he greeted captain and started showing him the possibility of the owner being the one who robbed his store.
"Hmm, you do make good points detective Greene, okay, I'll leave it to you both to bring him in" he said as he handed the folder to me.
"Good job both of you" and he walked away.
Oliver and I got ready and left for the jewelry shop.