Snippet #2502300

Gordon looked up slowly to meet eyes with the source of welcomed dialogue. Renee Montoya was a good cop, and not just in the sense that she made arrests. She was good to people, understood them. She wasn't like one of Loeb's flunkies either that did what she wanted if it meant she got ahead. She was very much by the books, and a sight for sore eyes after the hell he'd been through today.

"Who's to say it already isn't?" he replied. Renee's appearance lifted his spirits quite a bit; especially her exchange with the pimp she now had in custody. Gordon suppressed a chuckle; it wouldn't be very professional for the lieutenant of the homicide division to be caught laughing at the "mistreatment" of suspects. It was always nice to have Montoya around.

Until, she asked about the early morning murder. Gordon sighed. "Yes, it's true. It was Jules, if you can believe it." There was a tinge of sarcasm in that statement, but only just enough that the pimp wouldn't get it. It was always to the benefit of the department if at least the illusion of cooperation and familial bonds was maintained. Otherwise, criminals all over Gotham would take advantage of the internal discourse; not them a select few of them didn't already, but they were ones Loeb was in bed with anyhow, so it hardly mattered.

"As far as leads go...nothing. Our killer was quite efficient at what he did. No hair or skin follicles, no prints, nothing. He either cleans up like a methhead in a disorganized bookstore, or just makes sure not to leave traces of himself behind. Either way-"

Gordon was cut off by the arrival of Flass, who strode over and leaned on Jim's desk. "We got another one, Jimmy. Same as Jules. Found the poor bastard in an apartment in Coventry." Flass took the opportunity to look Renee over. "How's it goin', Montoya?" he said, waggling his eyebrows. Jim stood up, donning his coat as he did so.

"Guess I can finish this report later, then. Come on Flass. And good to see you, Montoya." With that, the two detectives were off and out the door. "It's going to be a long day," Gordon said.

"You got that right, Jimmy. You got that damn right."