Like a good neighbor....

[jsmith506]

"Well, I'm glad you landed here in the city of Angels. I was born and raised here. It wasn't always this rough, things started getting way dirtier when the meth and opioids started running rampant... Murr got a taste of that the other night and now they have him on light duty pushing papers. I still can't believe they took my badge and my gun pending a psych evaluation. The guy was armed, killed one person, wounded a second, and then shot Murray. What was I supposed to do? Shake my finger at him and tell him to stop? Whole thing still stinks to me, nothing adds up and it pisses me off... Did you guys find out what he was on? Had to be whacked right out of it, he didn't even get any cash from the liquor store." She got him started... it would be pretty plain to see Frank hadn't let it go, even though he had been told to. He reached inside his house coat and pulled out his flask, taking a quick swig.

[Mora Kaiyroan]

“The guy was armed, killed one person, wounded a second, and then shot Murray. What was I supposed to do? Shake my finger at him and tell him to stop? Whole thing still stinks to me, nothing adds up and it pisses me off... Did you guys find out what he was on? Had to be whacked right out of it, he didn't even get any cash from the liquor store."



Mora would listen to him as he spoke. Turning to hoist herself on top of the running washing machine. While Frank spoke. Her brow would crease when he started to vent about the psych eval and them taking away his badge and gun. She watched him pull a flask out and take a swig. She wondered if he had an actual drinking problem or if this case was driving him to.



“The guy was armed, killed one person, wounded a second, and then shot Murray. What was I supposed to do? Shake my finger at him and tell him to stop? Whole thing still stinks to me, nothing adds up and it pisses me off... Did you guys find out what he was on?”



She shook her head no. When he rhetorically asked her what he should’ve done. She would nod in agreement when he added how nothing was adding up and how it pissed him off when it was her turn to actually answer a question she’d pause before answering.



She knew nothing was adding up. From Mora’s view Signe just happened to be at the right place at the right time for the biker, but not for herself. She wondered idly in her mind how often stuff like that, had happened to the ancient valkyrie. Not that should could Frank that. Instead she answered his question.



‘We ran a tox screen and it came back with Amphetamines, Ketamine, Heroin, Opiates, Alkyl Nitrite and Lysergic Acid in his system. I’m having my team do a follow up examination incase I missed something. I’d like to have the tox screen re-run. But I want to see what their findings are and if we’re all on the same page. Personally I don’t know how that man was able to function let alone attempt a robbery and murder being on that kind of cocktail.’



She’d chew thoughtfully on her upper lip, before she continued.



‘But I agree stuff isn’t adding up.’



She’d glance around the laundry room as another person entered and came to take their clothes out of the dryer. She’d glance at Frank.



‘Why don’t we take this upstairs?’

[jsmith506]

"Speed balling with that much junk in his system should kill somebody that size... He looked out of it sure, but all of that should have had him on the ground sitting against a wall in an alley blacked out and shitting himself..."

Frank was playing back the shooting in his mind, the hollow look in the man's eyes, the emotionless expression on his face. It was almost as like the person he used to be had checked out, and something else was pulling the strings. He shook his head and arched an eyebrow at Mora when she asked to take this upstairs.

"First time I've heard that line in about thirty years Mora. Shall we?" He offered his arm in a gentlemanly fashion, she would know from the look in his eye, the tone of his voice and body language that he was only being his surly old self and there was nothing malicious there.

[Mora Kaiyroan]

"only 30?' she teased 'that must seem like a life time ago.' 
She slid her arm through his offered one, walking with him to the elevator. while they waited she spoke since there was no one else currently present that wasn't in the laundry room. 

'You're right. That should've killed him. I approved a 2nd tox screen to be sent to an independent lab for testing to see if the results come back the same or not.'


Having gotten Zaid's notations. She'd signed off on having the tox screen sent off, almost immediately. 

'I've never had a cadaver show up with that much junk in their system and still be able to carry on, long enough to shoot a cop.' She'd looked up at frank, being shorter than him. 'He shouldn't have even been alive when you guys crossed paths. He was a walking corpse before he ever came into you're line of sight. But the question is...how?' 

She chewed on her bottom lip in thought.  'I've never seen anything like this before' she said softly. 'Not like this.'

[jsmith506]

"Well at least I ain't the only one that's smelling skunk here.  Thanks for keeping an eye and ear open on this one, its good to know there's someone in the crypt I can count on when things aren't adding up, somebody that wants the truth and answers as badly as I do." The elevator returned to the lobby with a ding.  The doors slid open, Frank stuck his Alf slipper in front of the door after he entered making sure Mora had enough time to jump in behind him. He pressed the button for the 4th floor, then the 5th.  They would arrive on the 4th floor and Frank shot Mora a thumb's up.  "Okay, hold the door, it's only going to take about two minutes to get my kit, then we'll zip right up to your door right after yeah?"

[Mora Kaiyroan]

"Well at least I ain't the only one that's smelling skunk here. Thanks for keeping an eye and ear open on this one, its good to know there's someone in the crypt I can count on when things aren't adding up, somebody that wants the truth and answers as badly as I do."







She gave a ‘no big deal shrug’ even though it kinda was a big deal to have someone who barely knew her, express they trusted her. It made her feel better about her own gut feeling of being more open with Frank. Well as open as she could be without breaking him.







‘I think he had a family and someone who loved him at some point. They deserve answers just as much as we do. And who knows maybe it will help the dead rest easier. If you believe in that kind of thing.’







Mora would nod glancing down at the Alf slipper shaking her head trying to contain the mirth from her face.







From the elevator she couldn’t contain herself from doing a nosey peek around to glance into Franks apartment while she waited for him to fetch his kit. Seeing him heading back and pulled herself back around and pretended like she wasn’t trying to be nosey. But he was about to probably about to see the inside of her apartment. Which she now had an inner crisis of was her bathroom at least clean? Like she hadn’t left a bra laying around or anything like that. She’d hoped. But then shook her head. She was doing laundry. There was no dirty clothes laying around.







He was just making her slightly nervous in that new person entering her private space. Someone, she was starting to really like talking to.

[jsmith506]

Frank was back out of his apartment way too quickly, he still had a bit of spring left in his step it seemed.  He had his lock picking kit in hand, it was a small black bag somewhat reminiscent of a pencil case.  He totally caught Mora snooping.  "You like my bar setup?  You'll have to come down for a drink one night after work.  Got a pretty good selection of spirits and lots of ice in the freezer.  But come on, lets get you into your place so you can get that cat of yours in line." Frank chuckled and headed for the stairs, there wasn't any point in waiting on the elevator to go up one floor.  He climbed the stairs effortlessly and didn't have to stop at the top to catch his breath.  He loved his liquor but it was plain to see he was never a smoker, he still had lots of wind in him.  He strided down the hall in his Alf slippers and bath robe and knelt down in front of her door.  He took a peek inside the lock and then rifled through his kit producing a few different picks with various differently angled tips within about fifteen seconds of fiddling with three different picks in the keyhole at once, he twisted the knob and then he was looking down at Nikklaus.  Frank's eyes were wide, this heckin' chonker had to be at least 35 pounds.  "Damn Mora, you were not kidding.  He's a big boy!  Aren't you buddy!? He gave Nikklaus a rub on the head before standing up and getting out of the road for Mora, taking note of all the still unpacked boxes, yet everything still seemed tidy and organized.

[Mora Kaiyroan]

Frank’s spryness would definitely surprise Mora just a tiny bit, and put a smile on her face as he caught her snooping she raised her brows when he told her she needed to come down for a drink some night. After work. She laughed a little bit. ‘I will so take you up on that offer’ she said as she trailed behind him. Watching him work. If she’d known him better and had just a little less respect for him, she’d have pulled out her cellphone and taken a picture of him in his bathrob and slippers locking picking her apartment door. But she refrained. Instead let out a sigh of relief when he was able to turn the knob and open the door.



She giggled a little when he finally saw her cat and his response to it. What shocked her was the benedict arnold not only purred as loud as he possible could at Franks touch. But then as soon as Mora had side stepped frank into her apartment, Nikkaus had the audacity to rub his fat face all over the alf slippers frank was wearing before he wormed/waddled his way around and in between Franks legs looking up at the older man chirping at him for more pets. He’d look at Mora with his golden eyes, muttering ‘feed me bitch’ under his breathe loud enough for mora to hear but not for Frank, because his fat ass continued to purr and rub up on Frank like he hadn’t been petted in days. Even went so far as to flop on his back and expose his belly to frank still purring.



Mora stood there shell shocked at how Nikklaus was loving up on Frank like he was his new hero. Her eyes narrowed at his hidden comment knowing full well had he been any louder, frank would have actually heard him say the words and then there would be a lot of questions, that Mora was prepared to answer at that given moment.



Instead she just shook her head. ‘Scratch his belly and you’ll be friends for life. He’s too fat to do it himself, so he begs for belly scratches and rubs.’ she moved in further holding on to the door looking at frank.



‘Can I make you some coffee for being such a great neighbor? And celebrate the fact my cat likes you? He doesn’t like anyone I think he just tolerates me because I feed him and clean his litter box’ there was an appropriate chirp of agreement or so it would seem from nikklaus.



‘Sorry for the mess, I’m still unpacking. And I need to go furniture shopping at some point. Eating take out on the floor gets kinda boring after a bit. I need to take Landyn up on his offer to find some when we both have a day off next.’



She moved to make her way to the kitchen where a half empty box sat on the floor with kitchen written on the side. Inside where still some kitchen nicknacks, but her coffee maker was on the counter and clearly had been used since she’d moved in. She even had fruit in a fruit bowl, so clearly she was at least eating at home not just doing lonely take out on the dinning room floor becuase she had no table and chairs.

[jsmith506]

Frank smiled and obliged the heckin' chonker that was splayed out on the floor before him and rubbed that pudge.  He rubbed it good making sure to get those fingers working in there.  He looked up to Mora again as she offered coffee.  He rubbed his face for a moment, he was a bit stubbly, hadn't shaved yet today.  "Don't mind if I do actually, haven't gotten around to putting a pot on downstairs yet."   He yawned and stretched back upright again, stretching out his arms and back with his yawn.  He shuffled inside the apartment and slipped his lock picking case into his house coat pocket, he took note of her lack of a kitchen table and chairs, not unusual sure, but a sign that she didn't plan on having any dinner parties anytime soon.  Mora seemed like a quiet and private person.  He respected that, were it not for his job, he wouldn't be near as outgoing or know near as many people.  He kept to himself on his downtime mostly, save for his excursions to the diner and the Cheetah club, or the odd outing with Liz and Murr.  "Landyn hehe, he's a nice young fella.  Spooky been treating you alright Mora?  I've always found him to be very passionate and into his work, its kind of spooky to me, had to deal with my share of corpses sure, but to have to do that day in day out all day... Just not for me.  I respect you guys and the work you do."

[Mora Kaiyroan]

Mora would busy herself in her kitchen giving Frank the opportunity to look around. Not saying much because it was clear to him she was a quiet and private person. So there was no need for her to say so. While the coffee was brewing she’d disappear down the hall to closet and repear with 2 fold up camping chairs.



‘Its not glorious, but they will do…’ she said offering him a smile. She’d arch her brows as he spoke of Landyn she’d be reaching into the cabinet on her tippy toes pulling down a couple of of odd coffee mugs. One that said don’t stress meowt’ with cat faces all over it and another that was just super nerdy.



"Landyn hehe, he's a nice young fella. Spooky been treating you alright Mora? I've always found him to be very passionate and into his work, its kind of spooky to me, had to deal with my share of corpses sure, but to have to do that day in day out all day... Just not for me. I respect you guys and the work you do."



She turned her back on frank while he continued to talk and poured the coffee into the mugs. ‘Yes he’s been an absolute sweet-heart. I’m very glad he’s on my team.’ She’d lift her brows when he said he respected them and all that they did.



‘What are you trying to say Frank, you think I’m creepy or spooky too cuz I enjoy working with dead people? How do you like your coffee ? I’ve got sugar, milk and carqmel macchiato flavored coffee creamer if you’re looking for a shot of diabetes.’



She seemed more relaxed in her space. And it was just the two of them. She was more smiley and definitely more friendly.


'or do you prefer it black? I don't think we've ever made it this far on a coffee discussion before..' she added with a teasing grin and a possible unexpected wink. 

[jsmith506]

"I'll try a shot of that fancy cream there ma'am. And pardon my ignorance there, I don't find you weird or spooky. You're definitely more grounded than Landyn haha, I was just remarking how I'm not up for the task." He held out his hand, there was a slight tremble to it, nerves weren't the greatest in his hands anymore. They had seen a bit too much abuse over the years. The knuckles were scarred and thick with callous like they had done their share of punching all manners of people and things.

"I'd be hard pressed to hang on to a scalpel my dear. Put a gun in that hand though and it's steady as the grim reaper's scythe."

Frank looked to his left and noticed a big bird shit smear down her window. He grimaced, "That must have been one big bird that bombed your window over there..."

[Mora Kaiyroan]

Mora would smile a very pleased femenine smile when he said he didn't find her creepy or spooky. She'd glance at him with said smile before she'd turn and fill their cups with coffee and creamer, stirring them out of habit it would seem before handing it over to frank. She arched her brow as he held out his hand and the tiny tick and compared a gun to a scapel. A small shrug rolled at her shoulders as she looked up at him. 'True, but then again bad guys don't come back to life and try to kill me. so I get a moment to think and steady myself. Where as you don't get that chance. Do you?' she asked curiously taking a sip of her coffee, moving to go sit in one of the camping chairs, motioning for Frank to come sit. 

Her ass had almost hit the chair when he commented on the birdshit on her window. 'What the actual fuck....' was what came from her mouth first as she approached the window with a baffled and slightly annoyed look on her face. She glanced at Nikklaus who gave her the cat version of a shrug that indicated he'd probably had something to say but since Frank was there, he wasn't going to sing for his canery.

Mora let out a heavy sigh and shook her head. 'Guess I'll have to pay jimbo under the table to clean that shit off.' she had to grin at her unintentional pun.

[jsmith506]

Frank took a sip of his coffee and nodded. "Mmm, sweet... Its rare that it comes down to life or death like that, but you have to treat 'em all like that. It's when you get complacent and let your guard down they'll pull something on you."

Frank took another look at the window, there was a sliding window with a screen right beside the larger pane of glass with the big 'ol shit smear.

"Must have been one big buzzard... But you'll be waiting on Jimbo for ten years. If you just pop the screen out you should be able to spray it with some windex. Let it soak for a bit then take a plastic scraper to it, then squirter it again and hit it with a soft sponge. Then a few more squirts and some paper towel will get it."

[Mora Kaiyroan]

Mora would make a face of disgust looking at her window as Frank commented on it. She'd look at Nikklaus 'I bet it was that fat fuckers fault' she'd glance at Frank 'think I could play zaid or landyn to do it?' she asked with a raised eyebrow. 'I doubt I'd be able to sweet talk you into that after you were sweet enough to let me back into my apartment.' she smile at him. As she was kidding about asking him. But she would for real ask Zaid. She hoped he tolerated her enough to do her the favor anyway. She'd changed the subject from the shit covered window to the coffee.

'So whats the verdict? too sweet? too awful ? should I pour it down the drain and start over?' 

[jsmith506]

"Zaid... Zaid, oh yes that's the young fellow from the Liquor store where the shooting happened. You're acquaintances with him? I followed up briefly with him on the phone after, but it was pretty much an 'I'm suspended and off the case' talk." He took another sip of coffee. "Oh it's fine dear, I like my coffee sweet, but not too sweet. If we had put sugar in there it would have been too much. I find with those fancy creamers they are sweet enough on their own."