My office has always been a place for focus and reflection. It's where I go to disconnect from everything else and throw myself into a case. This has been my routine for years, and I've never once struggled to get into the zone. As my eyes reread the same note for the fourth time in a row, I realize I'm hopelessly distracted. I drop my pen and pinch the bridge of my nose, accepting that no work is going to get done until I address how I'm feeling.

"This is ridiculous. He was the problem, not me." I say aloud, hoping it's more believable that way. I try to focus on all the things he did, but I cannot just ignore his claims. He was right to call me out for mistreating him. I've been taking out my frustrations on him in retaliation. I shouldn't have done that, but neither should he have been so aggressive! I did not want to start an argument--we were getting along nicely while we discussed the suspects. It was when he called me ignorant and a sizist that I snapped. "I'm not a sizist, I was simply stating facts..." I try, failing to convince even myself. "Who am I kidding? I called him a speck. He never once insulted me back."

While Detective Flint certainly isn't innocent, I realize neither am I. It became clear to me when he went silent, and I really thought about what I'd said. I might have even taken it back, if the conversation had gone on a little longer. When I make a mistake, I am quick to rectify it. That's the right thing to do; it's justice. My mind drifts back to our interview when I nearly crushed the Detective on accident. Instead of apologizing for that like I'd meant to, I actually put the blame on him! It must have been terrifying for him. He only brought it up when we started arguing, meaning he was probably planning to let it go. If I were in his place, I'm not sure I'd do the same.

"When did I start to consider how a Lilli feels?" I mutter quietly, frowning as I stare blankly at my notebook. "That is something a sizist would say... Perhaps I could stand to be more compassionate?"

Following that train of thought, I recall how Flint's size allowed him to measure the suspect's pulse from a distance. To be honest, it really impressed me. I try to imagine what it is like, being so tiny in a world so big. Then, I get an idea. Maybe I should approach this investigation from a different angle? Rather, a different perspective. Mr. Collins' claims seemed so outlandish to me, but that's because I simply cannot accept that a Lilli killed one of our own. We are strong, but not invincible. If I can let go of that notion, maybe I can figure this out?

"Okay. Assuming the killer's confession is the truth, we are still missing a proper motive. If I were a Lilli investor in a company that produces a drug that is essential for my people, what reason would there be to kill the CEO? I need to think like a Lilli..."

I leave my chair and begin to pace back and forth the small room.

"Mengy's syndrome is a much bigger problem for them than us. It affects one in ten over there whereas it's one in fifty over here. Thankfully, the active ingredient in Moxanen is native to our land, and we have an abundance of it. When only a single company wants to export this life-saving medication to your country, you'd think that it would be appreciated."

I stop in my place, remembering what Mr. Paul had said. There was something about Mr. Harmond making a decision that upset his investors. The most likely reason for that would have to be a decision that would lose them money. I can't imagine anything else, apart from someone being fired or cheated. Statements from his employees insist that he was a hardworking and fair man. I have no reason to believe he would have cheated anyone, and there are no records of major changes to the structure of the company.

"Harmony Pharmaceuticals is based in New Brobdingnag, which was Lilli territory, long ago. There is great resentment toward the Brobs that live here because of that." I think aloud, trying to tie that fact to something else in the hope of finding something solid. "On the other hand, Brobs don't like Lillis. We only deal with them when we have to, or when there is something to gain. Charging a dependent people exorbitant amounts of money for medicine they need is definitely falls under the latter. It's highly immoral, but not illegal. Were HP not here, the Lillis would be out of luck."

I think about all the kind things Dr. Baird said about Mr. Harmond. Her story holds up, even if some Lillis might see him as simply taking advantage of them. Again, I find myself wondering what he could have done to upset his investors, and if that played any part in why Mr. Collins killed him. I suppose there is only one person who might know, and I might be too late to talk to her at this stage.

Rushing out of my office, I head to the booking room as fast as possible. I approach the counter, frantic and out of breath. The officer looks at me as though I've startled him. "Raymond, has Mrs. Harmond been processed yet?"

"Yes, she has. She was just released." He tells me, pointing to the door.

Without a word, I spin around and run out the door, leaving the precinct. I look around frantically, until I locate the woman getting into her car.

"Mrs. Harmond! I need to speak with you!" I call to her, as I run down the stairs and over to her. As I approach, a smartly-dressed man with a briefcase stands in the way to block me.

"I'm sorry, Officer, but Mrs. Harmond will not be answering any more questions." He tells me, his arm physically obstructing me.

"Mrs. Harmond, I know that your questioning is over, but this is important." I try to see her over the man's shoulder, but he continues to block me. "It might bring the true killer to justice!"

"Let her speak, Kareem." The older woman says, prompting the lawyer to step aside. He looks very upset, but complies. He opens his mouth to advise her, but she raises a finger to shush him, and he remains quiet. "Will this truly help your investigation?"

"Yes. I am certain of it." I tell her, grateful that she is being cooperative.

"Very well." She nods.

"Your husband was always kind to Lillis. I'm told he made a decision recently that upset your investors. Could you please tell me more about that, assuming it's true?"

The woman goes quiet, recalling the events of what happened. It looks as if something has clicked in her head, before she speaks. "Robert had received a letter from a Lilli mother who relies on our medicine to treat her daughter. Sparing you the details, it had a profound effect on him. So much that he planned to cut the cost of Moxanen in Lilliputia significantly, in spite of the loss we would incur. You are right about the investors becoming angry, but how did you know-"

"That's enough, Mrs. Harmond." The lawyer stops her before she can say any more. "You have helped the Detective with far more than you needed to. If that is all, we will be going now." He tells me, shutting the door to the car and knocking on the window to tell the driver to get going. He eyes me carefully before walking away without another word.

Being on such a time crunch, I cannot afford to dwell on the rudeness of lawyers. I head back inside, making my way past the booking desk. Officer Raymond sees me and asks, "Did you get what you needed?"

I cast a smile his way as I pass, answering, "Yes. Yes, I did."

I'm grateful I was both able to catch Mrs. Harmond in time, and that she was willing to cooperate. This new information confirms Mr. Paul's story and provides me more to work with. Mr. Collins is not a board member, but his file mentioned that he is very close with a Mr. Fabian, a member of the board as well as an investor. Maybe he told him about the upcoming change, which motivated him to take out the CEO before he could do that? If so, there is a chance he was involved. This picture is slowly becoming clear, but I need more information. That, or I need to bounce my ideas off someone else.

"It might be time to see Detective Flint." I grimace, dreading our next interaction. This will seem like I am crawling back because I need his help, which it isn't. I wouldn't need his help if I simply had more time! Swallowing my pride, I resolve myself to put justice first and myself second. "He's likely still in the Forensics lab with Linda."

I change course and head over there. As I put my hand on the door handle, I hear Flint's voice in my ear. Apparently, he never took me off his frequency, and I never bothered to turn off my earpiece. I stop and listen carefully, my eyes widening in shock as I listen.

"Let go of me! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Flint yells, groaning in pain. Through the window, I can partially see into the room. Katie is nowhere to be found. If I didn't know better, I'd assume Linda was in there alone. She doesn't say a word, but I watch her turn and walk toward the sink, pinching in her hand something far too tiny to make out as she walks over. "O-Officer, please...!" He pleads, his voice becoming weak.

I spring into action, bursting into the room and drawing my gun. I aim it squarely at Officer Linda and yell, "Freeze! Officer, I don't know what you think you're doing, but it stops now!" Officer Linda does a half turn, freezing up the moment she sees my weapon trained on her. She looks terrified, which only increases as I slowly step closer. My eyes land on her right hand, in which is undoubtedly the Detective. Keeping my weapon aimed and gaze locked on her, I nod in the direction of a nearby table. "Put the Detective down on that table. Slowly."

The officer hesitates, and I see her glance at the sink, probably estimating whether she can carry out whatever she is planning before I can pull the trigger. Before she can do anything stupid, I yell, "Now, Linda! I'm not asking!"

"Okay! Here, he's still alive." She says as she puts him down and takes a step back.

I can't afford to get too close to check on him, seeing as the Officer now has both hands free and her own firearm is within reach. I hear him coughing, like he's just had the wind knocked out of him. Turning my attention to Linda, I proceed with my arrest.

"On the floor, hands behind your back. If you even think of going for your weapon, I'll shoot. At this distance, I certainly won't miss." I order her, which she quietly obeys. I see tears in her eyes as she gets down on her knees and lowers onto her front. Her hands go behind her back and she doesn't do anything rash, thankfully. Moving behind her, I pull out a pair of cuffs and put them on her wrist. "Officer Linda, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Detective Flint." I declare as I drag her up onto her feet. 

A moment later, Katie bursts in the room accompanied by two officers who must have heard my yelling.

"What is going on here? Linda?!" Katie asks, the three of them rushing over to my side.

"Officers, please take Officer Linda into custody. I'm going to need to question her." I tell them, which they follow up with a 'yes ma'am', before taking her away. Turning to Katie, I give her a disapproving glance. Had she been here, this would not have happened. "Where were you?"

"The Detective asked me to go get you, so I left him in Linda's care." She insists, before rushing over to the table where he was left. She crouches down next to it so that she's at eye level and takes a good look at him. The concern in her voice seems genuine. "Detective! Are you alright?"

"I've been better..." He groans, the pain audible in his voice. I step closer, but don't lean in close. I can't bring myself to do so. He continues, immediately confirming her words to me, "Katie is telling the truth. I did ask her to do that. What I didn't expect was for Officer Linda to try to kill me as soon as we were alone!"

"Explain what happened. Tell me everything." I say, not as an order, but out of anger. I can't believe one of our own just did that. I'm absolutely appalled, and sadly ashamed.

"Not here." He pants, his breathing ragged.

"I understand. Can you walk?" I ask him, having stepped away to grab the carrier and come back. I set it down near him, using a finger to inch it even closer. He makes his way inside and I pick it up. I very nearly toss it in my pocket again, but this time I remember to keep it in my hands. I would latch it to my ear, if I didn't plan to talk to him face-to-face when we get there. I then leave for my office, getting us there in no time, and I place the accessory on my desk to let him out. Now that we have some privacy, I lean over, hands on my knees, and try to get as good a look at him as I can. He seems to be roughed up, but uninjured. I can see him moving all his limbs fine, but he is holding the side of his chest tightly like he broke a rib. "We're in total privacy now. No one else is listening."

He takes a moment to compose himself before speaking. It seems to me he's trying to downplay his pain, but I don't comment on it. He can be a tough guy if he wants to, so long as his injuries aren't actually serious.

"I got out of the carrier to take a look at the body, which I now realize was because she suggested it. She must have wanted me out in the open, because smashing the carrier would be too obvious." He grumbles something quietly before continuing. "I was thinking aloud like I usually do, and then I make a breakthrough. That's when she suddenly snatched me up without a word. She held me in her fingers, crushing me so I'd shut up." He explains, trying to ignore the pain. His breathing is strained, giving credence to my broken ribs suspicion. "It happened so suddenly. She was going to toss me in the sink and turn on the water. Everything she did... It was obviously to avoid leaving any traces."

"There was no way she would get away with it. I'd personally see her locked up if she'd gone through with it." I assure him. I will not tolerate corruption in my city, let alone in my precinct. "You mentioned saying something that prompted her attack?"

Flint goes quiet for a few seconds, but ultimately decides to respond. It seems he is choosing to trust me, even after just being attacked by a dirty cop. For all my flaws, he seems to recognize the difference between her and I.

"I was thinking about what Mr. Collins said about 'trusting the legal system'. That's when I realized that a crime like this can't be tried in a Brob court. He'll be sent back to Lilliputia." He explains, and I do my best to follow. Unlike him, I'm only familiar with our own legal system. "I felt like I was so close to piecing it all together, when suddenly... I thought that was it for me."

"Thankfully, the worst didn't come to pass." I breath a sigh of relief, standing up straight again. I brush my hair back, putting some stray hairs back in place. "She should be in the interview room now, so-"

"Thank you, Detective." Flint says, causing me to suddenly lose my voice. It's so sincere and kind that I can hardly believe he said it. I shut up and let his words echo in my head, losing all interest in what I was about to say. I must be staring at him like an idiot, because he suddenly returns to his usual self. "Quit staring, already."

I blink twice before regaining my focus. My expression softens, and rather than say something sweet, I do him a favor and avoid the emotional moment altogether with a simple, "You're welcome, Detective."

He seems to appreciate it, as he slowly walks back into the carrier so I can take him with me. I wasn't sure if he wanted to come along to confront Linda, but his intentions come across loud and clear. Once inside, I put it back on my ear and exit my office. Several officers try to talk to me as I walk past them, but I pay them no mind. Getting to the interview room is all I can think about. I have several burning questions that need answering.

Entering the interview room, I find the officers have already brought Officer Linda and cuffed her to the table. I give them an approving glance and gesture for them to leave so that I can begin questioning. Entering the room, I take my seat across from her, just like we did with all the suspects. This time, however, I keep Flint safely in my earring. He cannot be allowed out in the open this time, obviously. 

I watch Linda carefully, making note of her wet cheeks and puffy eyes from crying, and I am overcome with a feeling of intense disappointment. How dare she cry after what she nearly did? Her and I are not close, but we have worked together for some time. She was always a good officer, diligent and eager. I respected her for following protocol and always being helpful. Never in my wildest dreams would I have suspected her to be dirty.

"Internal Affairs is going to be handling this going forward." I tell her, my tone devoid of any compassion. Then, I allow myself to relax a little. "But, I'm going to give you a chance to explain yourself. I know you, Linda, you're not a killer. What in the world came over you?"

She stares at me, a pained expression on her face. It seems she is grappling with several emotions at once. She takes a moment to compose herself and then begins, "Detective, I swear I didn't want to do it. I... I was forced to."

"You're saying you were coerced?" I press her, hoping for a name.

"It's too late now. I'm done for." She begins to cry again, but manages to hold herself together. "He told me to keep an eye on the Lilli Detective, and to get rid of him without a trace if he figured anything out." She sniffles, dropping her head in shame. "I'm so sorry, Detective."

"Give me a name, and maybe you can help your case. If this is related to the HP case, then you could receive leniency." I encourage her, though it seems she does not care. 

Her attitude causes Flint to realize something. He speaks to me, through my earpiece, ensuring that Linda's is no longer connected. "She was probably told that killing a Lilli would result in leniency either way."

He makes a valid point. I hadn't considered that, and it makes perfect sense. Leaning forward, I slam my hands on the table and put as much pressure on her as I possibly can. "If you believe for a moment that the murder of a Lilli will be taken lightly, you are sadly mistaken. Detective Flint is one of Lilliputia's greatest minds, and his death would not be met quietly." I say, noticing her becoming visibly scared. I double down, practically boring into her with my words, slowly rising to stand while keeping my hands firmly on the table. "I will personally see to it that you have no future as an officer of the law, if you don't give me a name. Tell me, Linda!"

The woman is practically shaking now, shrinking in her seat in fear of me. Despite all that, she refuses to provide a name. She keeps her mouth shut, even under such intense pressure, but cannot hold back her sobbing. I step away from the table, preparing to leave the room, when suddenly, she speaks. 

"Tell Detective Flint that...he was on the right track."

I give her one final glance, before leaving the room and shutting the door behind me. I pass the officers from IA as I am making my way down the hall back to my office. All the while, Flint remains quiet. It suddenly occurs to me that he hasn't said hardly anything in a while. Then, I remember that we aren't even working together anymore.

Entering my office, I set the earring down on my desk and take a seat. Soon after, he steps out, but still doesn't say a word. He's so still that I wonder if he is alright. It's difficult to tell, until I pull out a small magnifying glass from my drawer, inspecting him more closely. He seems to be in less pain now, moving more freely. I can now see clearly that he is trying hard not to meet my gaze, likely still angry with me. He must be waiting for me to find him another officer to take him around, hopefully one that's not homicidal. A couple of good cops come to mind, and I pull out my phone to dial one of them to come collect him.

"Don't do that. Let's just...talk." He asks me, his tone soft and slightly vulnerable, to which I slowly pocket my phone and give him my attention.

"Alright." Is all I say, as I wait for him to continue. I bring my hands to rest on the table, interlacing my fingers comfortably as I await his next words.

"I'm not going to sit here and justify my actions. I shouldn't have been so rude to you from the get-go. For that, I'm...sorry." He says, struggling at the end of his sentence.

I hadn't expected him to apologize. In fact, I was mentally preparing for another argument. Where is the 'Brobs are evil, I almost got killed by one' line that I was dreading? In the last hour, I have received both a 'thank you' and a sincere apology. This can't be the same Detective Flint! Then again, I haven't known him for long enough to know anything for certain. Did I misjudge him so severely? No, he must have hit his head or something! Jokes aside, his apology goes a long way in my book. Not many men apologize, least of all to a woman, and even more rarely when you reach our age.

"I accept your apology, Detective. It takes a big man to apologize like that." I crack a smile, sensing there is a joke to be made here, but recognizing that is not the time. Putting aside my pride as a Brob, I decide to follow suit. "I am also...sorry. I should not have treated you so poorly, nor called you a 'speck'." I hesitate at the end, worrying the mere mention of the word, even in this context, might be offensive despite no longer being my intention.

"I'm glad we could clear the air." He says, his tone slowly returning to normal. He clears his throat before continuing. "My name is Detective Flint Harris, and I've been sent here to solve a mystery because I'm the best at what I do. I look forward to working with you, Detective." His tone isn't friendly, just formal. It's exactly how it should have been up on the roof. To complete the gesture, he extends a hand.

I can't help but smile at that comment, and his attempt at starting fresh. Keeping the magnifying glass in my left hand, I slowly and carefully move my right closer to him, extending my index finger until it is so close that I can feel him touch it.

"My name is Detective Claire Bennett, and I've been tasked with solving this mystery because I am also the best at what I do." I match his level of formality, challenging him with the same declaration. "I know that together we'll bring justice, Detective."

"You know, there can only be one 'best', right?" He suddenly becomes much more casual. "That is the definition of the word." 

"In Lilliputia, perhaps, but this is New Brobdingnag. You'll have to settle for best duo, because I am not giving up my title." I answer, gently pulling my hand away.

"I guess that's fair." He concedes, throwing his hands up. The tiny man looks up at me with a look of determination and renewed vigor. It's not the look I'd expect to see from someone who has had such a terrible day. I'm beginning to suspect he does this for the thrills. He pulls out his notebook and shows it to me, which I obviously cannot read. "I've learned some interesting facts. Care to hear them?"