You didn't think Raylan would go this long without getting investigated, did you?
Detective Rachel Brooks was driving to the Walsh crime scene and asked her partner "Do you really think that was an accident, Tim?"
"Fuck if I know," Tim Gutterson replied. He'd been on the Sunnydale police force longer and lost an ability to be shocked.
"Well, thank you...that was incredibly helpful. I hope I have your insight after years on the job."
"Rachel, be reasonable. This case is absolutely a no-win for us. It's on a super-secret government installation...they're probably emptying out half of Quantico right now so the Fibbies can take the credit for all of our hard work. Should we do any, that is."
" It does sound like a job for Agent Mulder," Rachel pointed out. "Imagine that, eaten by a demon." She shuddered.
"I heard it was demons, plural. I think we're just lucky they left enough to identify."
"Yeah?"
"Just her hands and an ID badge. Which I know thanks to Monique at the crime lab so don't say anything.",
"See, I told you you'd like her."
"Yeah...we've been out a couple times."
"I'm happy for you. I really am. If it was really a demon, then why are we out on this? Why not, like, Animal Control?"
"You know, a man could get a whiplash from you changing subjects so fast."
"Sorry. And what happens to the demon?"
Tim was amused. "You feel sorry for the demon?"
"No, not really. They're disgusting, but if they can't help it..."
“ I don’t know…it’s not our problem, anyway.”,
“So, what do you think about the witness?”
“Givens? Seems like he shits red, white, and blue. He’s so upright it kind of makes me suspicious.”
“But you’re not judging…”
“Hey, you asked!”
“Maybe I should take this one…make sure this guy gets a fair shake.”
“You’re officially Good Cop, Detective Brooks. Congratulations. I have one question, though. What was that doctor chick…”
“You mean the late Dr. Walsh, right?”
“Yeah. What was she doing inspecting security pods when she had a whole raft of G.I. Joe types to do it for her?”
“Control freak,” Rachel Brooks said, one eyebrow raised. “Likes to see all the I’s dotted and the t’s crossed. Like someone else I know.”
“Let’s get off of me and onto Givens,okay?”
“Great.”
But as they pulled onto the Initiative grounds, both jeeps full of youthful commandos and what looked like FBI vehicles swarmed the area and waved Rachel off. “Ma’am,” one of the commandos, a guy so young, he still had a festering pimple on his forehead.”You can’t be here.”
For a moment she had a crazy urge to tell him that a crushed aspirin on his face would fix the pimple right up, but she was quickly joined by a tall drink of water in a cowboy hat who waved her over.”Just so we’re on the record,” Rachel said, briskly.
“I’ve got nothing to hide,”
Much.
Rachel liked to start out confirming the basics. It generally made witnesses more secure, gave them time to talk too much and screw up. Tim thought that part was boring and unnecessary, but he and Crime Lab Monique had had way too much to drink at a tapas place the night before, so he wasn’t sure if he was speaking from professional judgment or hangover.
“Name?” Rachel asked.
“Raylan Francis Givens…where you from, darlin? I feel I can almost sense it on the tip of my tongue.”,
“Memphis, Tennessee. Now, tell your tongue to mind its own business.”
“I’m sorry… I expect I’m just a little nervous.”
“I don’t doubt it. Losing your commanding officer in…such a fashion.” Raylan could see, despite Brooks’ dark coloring, that she was almost pale.Demons really freaked her out.
“Yeah…mighty big shoes to fill. Mighty big shoes.”
“Some of the men on your floor report that you had words with Dr. Walsh on the night she was killed.” If she was looking for a major reaction, she didn’t get it. Just the same old Mayberry shucks, oh, golly, oh, gee, (continued...)