Morning arrived sooner than I realized and my research got me to a few conclusions.
The Force based its excursion on an anonymous hint used to support the Mayor's desire to invade the slums. There was no actual evidence that the masked leader lived in the lower tier, aside from the fact that most of their followers lived there.
The whole operation was a shot in the dark with two hands tied to their backs. Absolute incompetence.
"You really didn't sleep?"
A groggy voice brought me back and the collection of tabs I had floating around closed with a snap.
"To be honest, I'm a vampire. There! You caught me, Officer." I spinned in my chair to look towards my bed and the woman laying on it.
"Are you always like this?" She sat on the bed, blinking and tying her hair up in a bun.
Officer Sun looked like a harmless 20-year-old with messy hair, sweat clothes and an I-just-woke-up face. Last night's events sure felt like a distant dream. The thought of what might have happened made my stomach flip.
"I don't know… Like what?" I crossed my arms, curious about her reply.
"Evasive."
She was definitely not a morning person. Standing up quietly, she didn't bother to elaborate. She just walked to the bathroom and closed the door.
Before getting up to make some coffee, I checked if I left everything exactly where she left it.
Luckily, she would decide to leave soon and after taking her to the station I would be able to sleep peacefully.
"Thank you for the clothes… and the bed."
After coming out of the bathroom she was back in her tight black uniform, with her hair tied up in a ponytail and a very serious expression.
Talking to her after she had returned to being a cop was far harder than when she was just a girl sleeping in my bed.
"Coffee?"
"Please!"
Never in my life I would've guessed one day I'd have a cop drinking coffee in my kitchen. She was dressed like it but Officer Sun didn't act like one of them. Her posture was stiff but not oppressive. Her way of speaking went back and forth from formal to outgoing but never authoritarian. Having her in my house is definitely the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me.
As the old coffeemaker growled to heat up the water, Officer Sun flinched like a cat with the sudden noise.
By the window I could see her trying to pretend nothing happened. She was making the bed despite my protests. After stretching the covers, she turned to the kitchen, where I was waiting for the machine to be done.
"You have a coffee maker!" Her surprise when realizing what the noise was reminded me of a child getting a Christmas present. "I haven't seen one ever since my mom had to give hers away."
"Took me a while to find it. I hate canned coffee."
I couldn't stand the taste of those things, it wasn't really coffee. It was essence and lots of chemicals that imitated the flavour.
Growing coffee beans was expensive, since they weren't considered essential; only private luxury brands cultivated it to sell it at food boutiques for exorbitant prices. On the black market you could find a cheaper version, it was mostly leftovers from the production process, but still they were better than the canned piss.
"I got used to it, but my mother used to say it tasted like piss."
"She is right though."
With its final growls the machine let us know the job was done. I poured some of the dark hot liquid into two mugs. With mine in hand I raised it to salute my visitor then inhaled deeply, to fill my lungs with the heavy smell of morning, before taking my first generous sip.
"I like it strong, so be warned."
Quiet, I watched the Policewoman cautiously bring the mug to her lips then closing her eyes while turning the mug to take her first sip.
I was able to guess the moment she tasted it. Her lips turned into a self-satisfied smile that drove me to involuntarily grin behind my steamy mug.
"So?" I asked, curious to know what she had to say after such a pleasurable reaction.
"This definitely couldn't fit in a can."
"Worth every coin." Coffee in hand, I went to check the mood outside. I pulled the window shades, letting the clarity penetrate my dark dungeon, making me blink at the brightness.
Everything looked normal, people were outside and the stores were open again. In the alley below the window the Trinity boys were gathering up probably to make sure the police wouldn't try any more stupid surprise operations.
"I'm in your debt again. Canned coffee will never be the same for me."
"I know we can figure something out, Officer." I winked at her and she squeezed her eyes warning me to be careful.
"I'll be on my way now. Have to report back ASAP." She began to walk towards the door to pick up her police armour she had left there last night.
"Good luck, walking target. You won't make it past the stairs dressed like that." I put my mug down and head to my desk to grab my jacket and shades, already anticipating our next steps.
"What do you suggest?"
On the bed she left the clothes I gave her carefully folded. I've never made my bed or even organized my clothes in my entire life. Seeing my sheets perfectly stretched like in a hotel just made me smirk and shake my head at the whole thing.
"Put on your armour, but keep it offline and put this back on." I threw her the hoodie she used as pajamas. "I'll take you to the station." I also handed her a spare mask and a backpack for the Force vest.
In her face it was clear her desire to refuse the help and head out on her own as a proud, capable Police Officer. But instead, she swallowed her pride and did as I said. She knew that going out alone in the Force uniform was a suicidal move. Her good judgment and level head just kept surprising me as I kept testing it.