Work Text
Click. "This is Detective Rodger Dankovsky, badge number Three-Eight-One, the time is eight hundred on a Wednesday, i'm here with miss Shelly Fossilian investigating the Gardenview case file Four-Five-Six."
"Would you like to introduce yourself?"
Shelly clears her throat politely with a fist, placing her hands crossed over her lap as she begins. "Thank you." Another pause, words caught behind her teeth only letting a soft hiss of air escape. "My name is Shelly Fossilian, i work at the Gardenview educational centre for children as a museum host. I've worked there for about.." Yet another pause, flourescent lightbulbs above them buzz and catch dust. "Ten years now?""Ten years, and who did you work under for those ten years?" The air is stagnant, stuffy inside the cramped interrogation room. "I worked under Dandicus Dancifer, he was the head manager and owned the bottom floors."
"And who was the chairman?"
"I don't... Remember. I only remember Dandy." Rodger lifts his head, clearing his throat. "Dandicus, you mean?"
"Yes, my apologies. I meant Dandicus." Shelly rubs her arm, nervous sweat coating her palms."And your coworkers?"
"We where divided into section managers and general managers, i was with five others and my section manager was Shanon Mendez, i remember her vividly, she was very proactive in her work and especially when it came to fostering a comfortable environment for the children."
Scribbling filled the gaps silence made, Shelly swallowed thickly rubbing her thumbs over her hands methodically, dreading the next question at the tip of Rodger's tongue. "And how did you feel after she went missing?"
"Distraught.. It was difficult to come back to work." The buzzing amplified like bugs in her ears, drowning out the last sliver of coherent thought she had left as overwhelming dread filled the pit of her stomach. "She was like a big sister to me, i felt her absence the most i'd wager."
Tears prick at the corners of her eyes, she sharply inhales with newfound resolve to steel herself for the next question. "And when the others began going missing, how did you feel?"
"Scared. For myself the most, but i kept going back to work with as much optimism as i could muster, i needed to keep everyone else in high spirits.""That's very commendable." Shelly's reply is a near whispered, "Thank you."
"Did you have any clue as to what, or how, they could've gone missing? Did they display any uncharacteristic behavior days before their disappearances?"
"Well, if i where to think about it, Shanon seemed more closed off and quiet the day before. I was admittedly, a bit concerned because she had divulged her past struggles with addiction to me and i was afraid she was showing signs that she had fallen down that slippery slope again."
"Addiction?"
Shelly's eyes flicker into something despondent and hollow. "Yes. She had a long history of alcohol abuse."
Rodger pauses. "We can take a break, you don't have to push yourself so hard."
"It's fine- I..." Shelly's voice abruptly stops and she hiccups, quickly covering her mouth. "Thank you.. We can.. Reschedule."
"Of course." The tape clicks.
"That's one off the list, i still don't think i'll be able to get ahold of the rest during this week, it semes likely i'll have to reschedule." Rodger sighs, rubbing at the bridge of his nose to relieve that lingering stubborn headache loitering behind his eyes. Fluorescent lighting did anything but mitigate that.
"Oh dear you'll be fine, this seems like a big one, hm?" That fancy familiar lilt echoed from the receiver, he stifled a yawn. "Yeah, a very big case that might take me years to crack." He groans, casting the deep navy sky above him a heated glare, it was only six and the sun had already fallen below the horizon.
"Years? You'll get it in no time darling, just keep a level head." Gentle laughter floated in the booth, he felt the need to proclaim his disapproval with a huff. "Surely a level head isn't enough to drag five separate people in for an interview, i've already sent out emails and only gotten two replies, one was a rejection as well just to rub salt in that wound."
Real bummer that one was, receiving a rejection was about as painful as watching his pay get docked for all his lollygagging and dereliction, possibly because that's what would actually lead to his salary receiving a devastating blow."Oho? How unfortunate, i guess you'll have to go treasure hunting then." A pause. "Treasure hunting? Might as well humor that, i think Gardenview has a treasure hunting exhibit too." That earned him a floaty giggle that tapers off into silence, she was always easy to humor, he remembers.He watches headlights fly by, kicking up dust on the lonely midnight street. Reminds him of lonely slasher movies and dark empty alleyways devoid of all innocent.
"You're doing something truly commendable Rodger, the case was cold when you picked it up, even if you don't solve it i think the victims feel grateful a detective decided to look twice."
"Thank you Teagan."
"I'm not babysitting Toodles on friday."
"Wait-" The line goes dead.He exhales a frustrated sigh and places the phone back onto the handle. Curse that witch, could've warned him a week in advance not three days before, but that was just her style, wasn't it? Fashionably frustrating.
The night is still somewhat young, stragglers shambled down the streets to file into their homes for the night. He shuffled out of the phone booth, patting down his pockets to fish out his wallet for a cab. He'd have to skimp out on babysitters and bring Toodles in to the office, he still doesn't trust her to be home alone yet after last time she had completely emptied out the fridge to conduct possibly illicit experiments with cultivating salmonella and some unknown strain of botulism in his living room, a real mystery.
There's a conveniently placed cab idling near the sidewalk, he speedwalks over towards it and gently knocks at the window to request a ride back home, the driver numbly accepts his last fiver and he slides into the backseat, sighing at his empty wallet. Oh well, his payday was nearing so he'd fill his pockets with bills and save some more for Toodles' collage fund.
Money was awfully tight but they used to be comfortable. Keyword, used to. It was something that dwelled on the back of his mind, putting his work at such a high pedestal, chasing breadcrumbs for a chance to be in the limelight, to make someone grab his hands and thank him endlessly for finding out the truth. Briefly, he wonders if Toodles loathes him for pouring so much time into his work.No, she doesn't and wouldn't. She thinks too highly of what he does to actually despise him for doing it. He can't help the guilt through, slithering around like a snake inflicting ugly poisonous wounds whenever his doubts resurface.
The cab slows and with a glance he notices Teagan in her long winter coat, furred hemlines and embezzled buttons reeking of wealth and status. One of those could fetch for his salary, he thinks idly as he exists the cab and waves the driver off, watching the car speed off into the distance over the horizon."You can't babysit on Friday?" He asks as he ascends the cobblestone steps up towards his front porch, Teagan's smile pulls on her smile lines and dimples as she replies with a honeyed voice. "No, i've got a dinner reservation." Now that piqued his interest, dinner reservations came rarely to Teagan having such high standards."With whom?" His inquiry earns him a lofty giggle. "Oh wouldn't you like to know honeysuckle?" Crows feet curl at the corners of her eyes as her smile pulls on them. He notes that her vibrantly platinum hair is still in those pinky curlers she uses after showering, oddly enough."Is someone driving you home?" He pulls on the doorhandle, looking back to watch her elegantly drop down the steps, heels clicking against the cobblestone. "Hm, yes i called Glisten for a favor." She shakes her coat, mist forms in front of her face as she hums, indicative of the rapidly dropping temperature he feels biting through his own coat.He pauses with the door halfway ajar, giving Teagan the most impassively charming smile he can muster up."Alright, well, goodnight Teagan."
Teagan tilts her head, a small humorless smile playing on her lips. "Yes, goodnight Rodger." She definitely saw right through him. Well worth a shot he thinks.He shuts the door, letting out a long winded suffering sigh. He shakes the lingering feelings and hangs up his trench coat on the rack, turning around to face a dark and quiet home. Toodles must already be asleep by now, curtesy of Teagan's strict bedtime routine.
Shuffling into the living room he yawns a jaw clicking wide yawn, popping the pressure in his knuckles, today had been entirely too long and it dragged until he couldn't even stand, his knees ached his back wailed in pain, and most of all he nearly dropped asleep right there in that alley.
The house is relatively clean, a few stuffed animals laying about on the couch that Toodles had not cleaned up yet, namely her prized spotted dog she carried around everywhere. It was surprising seeing the dog not within her grasp, she tended to sleep better with it snuggled neatly underneath her chin. He picked it up by the ear and rubbed the exhaustion out of his eyes, shuffling over towards her room upstairs.
As he entered, he found Toodles quietly sleeping with her comforter tucked over her chin, sleepily mumbling about some unintelligible garble nonsense. He leaned down to brush the dark curls from her forehead and plant a quick kiss, pulling back to secure the plush dog underneath her arm.He lingered for a moment, wondering at how he would even begin to Toodles-proof the office in a few days. Thankfully, his job had granted him a day off tomorrow so he could spend some quality time with his daughter, though he was positive that she was one hell of a mystery fanatic, enough to drive him crazy with all her incessant begging to be apart of his 'very interestingly cool awesome cases' even on days he was granted a break.Sighing, he made sure to make his steps quiet as he quickly shuffled out of her room, closing the door with a gentle click. Walking down the stairs he stretched,
pulling a free hand to run through his messy hair he mused on what he should whip up for dinner tomorrow, he wasn't sure if Toodles would be in a stir fry mood or her regular classy chicken nuggets for dinner mood.
Either way, he desperately needed a shower and to clean up before bed, the day had defininetly taken a massive toll on him and the idea of sinking underneath the covers of his bed sounded perfectly heavenly.
His computer was wide awake, that surprised him. Hadn't he shut it off when he had left his house previously? Had Teagan decided to snoop? Nosy woman, that one. He approached the blue light shining through the screen, a notification in his inbox caught his wavering attention.A reply from Dandicus!Well, that definitely caught his attention, had his question been answered? Getting a full tour of the run down Gardenview center would be a massive milestone in his research
to furthering the case. He clicked onto the email with fervor, a small smile playing on his lips, what fortune had he come across for the stars to finally begin aligning in his favor?
-It would be my pleasure to allow you to join me for a tour of the remains of our once bustling educational center. This case has been brewing on my mind as well admittedly, i would be much obliged to show you around the place. Would Friday work well for you?
Friday would be perfect.Aside from Toodles having a freeday of course, he's sure Dandicus wouldn't mind though. An educational center host not enjoying children? Quite contrary to his job description.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"Toodles- Toodles stick close to me." He swiped to grab ahold of Toodles' coat, pulling her towards his side and keeping her small chubby hand interlocked with his so she didn't dash off again. She was practically vibrating with uncontained energy, bouncing on her heels and holding back squeals of joy as they walked down the sidewalk.
To say Toodles was ecstatic was an understatement, his daughter could barely compose herself in the face of an actual 'crime scene', if he could even call it that taking into account it's past history, she had begged and pleaded for ages for an opportunity like this.
"Okay, listen, treat this like we're visiting a crime scene- Toodles." He sighed, pulling Toodles closer and dropping down to her level on the sidewalk. "Please don't touch anything without asking first, stick close to me, the building is very big, i do not want you getting lost, okay?"
"Yes! You told me that already!" Toodles exclaims, looking even more excited if that could even be possible. Rodger lets out a long hiss through his teeth, he always tried to indulge in Toodles' growing fascination in detectives but her roundabout interactive ways made her a handful to bring around any sensitive cases.
She jumped and her ratty detective hat nearly fell off again, it was having a hard time staying on her head due to the sheer volume of her curls and her needing to pick at it constantly. "I'll tape it to your head if you loose it again." He scolded playfully, musing up her hair and inciting a childish giggle.
He could only hope that Dandicus himself wasn't too opposed to the idea of his daughter tagging along, the fallen star didn't seem too miffed when he mentioned it in their email exchanges, albeit he barely elaborated on her involvement for that exact fear.
It was a rather short car ride over to the front yard gates of the Gardenview educational center, large iron gates adorned the front and behind it stood the main building as tall and imposing as ever, a little unkempt but still standing strong through weathering and lack of maintenance. The walls peeled with age, debris littered the once bustling parting lot and the roof was tacked with moss and mold.
"Ah, a pleasure to finally meet you detective!"
That voice, reminiscent of actors preforming for an audience full of young children, coated with just a sliver of that patronizing playful lilt masked with patience and politeness, almost near sickening if only he wasn't here with a purpose.Dandicus was a shockingly stout man, averaging at a startling five foot four looking all the more childish in muted suspenders and a pale blue bandana throwing him off with the juxtaposition of the streaks of grey in his head of light brown and smile lines. He seemed like the type to have been surprisingly handsome in his early twenties.
"Good evening sir, it's great to finally meet you in person as well." He nods in affirmation, clenching Toodles' hand a little tighter at the downright sinister smile Dandicus responds with. Through text, he had discarded those feelings of wrongness but in person it was much harder to ignore the persistent buzz of something being incredibly faulty with all the warning signals going off in his head.
Dandicus makes quick work of producing a rusted key and unlocking the front gates, they creak open announcing their arrival loudly. "It's truly such wonderful news that the authorities had decided to invest in this case once again. My old coworkers are entirely wracked with grief after what had happened."
Wracked with grief wouldn't be how Rodger would describe it, more of despondent realization. They hadn't needed condolences or to be assured that the one responsible would be held in court. Shelly, he remembers briefly, didn't seem all too keen on him even pursuing the case further, she seemed apprehensive.
"Oh, i had pulled some strings to reopen the case." It was a tough process, his boss had really scrutinized this decision and he was placed on a delicate deadline with little to no exceptions. If he didn't produce results, it would directly affect his paycheck. But deep down, he knew he just had to do something, like a persistent itch under his skin he couldn't scratch.
"Then i should thank you more!" Dandicus laughs, it's piercing. He chuckles dryly and swallows a bitter taste. "No need, i'm just doing what's right."
"Yes, what's right." Dandicus' eyes crinkle, he feels nausea twist in his stomach.
"Anyways, the building might not look like much from the outside, but boy is it a wonder on the inside! Not sure how much age has affected the general structure of the layout but hopefully it's still the same lovable center i remember." His keys jingle as he inserts them into the glassy double doors, swinging them open with pizazz.The sight is definitely magical, he can almost see the past in the peeling wallpapers and littered trash lining the floors, Dandicus doesn't seem to share that same sentiment, looking a little downtrodden at the state of the building. It's big and tall, looking like a clown car too small on the outside to house such a big interior. "I've only seen a few clips circulating on the web, it looked very nice back then." He hums thoughtfully, watching his step around sharp glass debris."It was." Dandicus fondly reminiscences, his eyes glaze over with sorrow as he regards the building with a sense of overwhelming loss.
He opens his mouth to reply but a sharp tug on his arm redirects his attention to a wonderstruck Toodles, she's chewing on her bottom lip obviously holding back a question and looking up at him for affirmation. He nods and Toodles' beams up at him, slipping her hand free and bounding over towards the kiosk to examine it with unperturbed enthusiasm.
"Stick close Toodles." She's already kneeled down and pulled out her trusty magnifying glass, it's the one she had begged him to buy from the toy store years ago all shiny and brand new, now a bit tattered but clearly loved and plastered with stickers and tied ribbons around the handle. "Children can be a handful, hm?" Dandicus shakes himself out of his reverie to comment. "Yeah, wouldn't change that for the world though."
"Agreed." He shakes the lingering prickling feeling of wrongness and tails after Dandicus as they head on deeper into the maw of the building, stray merchandise litter the floors and tipped over trash cans with emptied bellies paint a poor picture.He clears his throat, dust lingers in the air illuminated by sparse lighting filtered through broken windows. It smells like dust and grime with that metallic sting of old dried blood, possibly from rowdy teens tripping over cinderblocks.
"Do you mind if i ask a few questions?" He slips out a notepad from his coat pocket, flipping to a blank page and resting his pen. Dandicus glances around the building and shakes his head, that ever present smile still plastered on his face. "Of course not, fire away."
There's an underlying hint of danger to Dandicus' voice, as if he's trying to inconspicuously warn Rodger to tread as lightly as possible."Is the building still maintained by the state? I'd believe they would've torn it down if it was abandoned since it takes up such a large plot." He hums, glancing at the walls with scrutiny. "Yes and no, nobody really preforms maintenance on the building anymore as you can tell, the state wanted to bulldoze the plot but i managed to extend the deadline through a little bartering." He rubs his fingers together, insinuating money was involved.
"Ah, why isn't the building closed off?" Dandicus pauses, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "When the case was opened, they closed down the perimeter but after it went cold they didn't see the point in it. It's still considered private property though, some rowdy teenagers like to hop the gates sometimes but lately it's been quiet." Birds chirp around them, their twittering carried through holes in the walls. "I've had to call the police a few times, thankfully none in the past months."
"Why did you extend the deadline? As i see it, you're the sole owner of the plot right now, selling it off or bulldozing it would be an investment considering the reputation Gardenview has gained." A truly nasty and ugly reputation, haunted house fit it's description better than educational center would.
"Call it, intuition, or just a sentimental guy hanging onto the past." He shrugs loosely, it's an impassive gesture that brings a frown out of Rodger. "The building seems to be in immense disrepair, i heard you have elevators? Are the pulley systems still active?"
Dandicus flinches, this singular question seemed to strike a chord in the rather impassive children's mascot. "Yes, they're state of the art, they are built to last decades without maintenance as we couldn't afford to splurge on maintenance if they broke." He continues to lead Rodger deeper into the belly of Gardenview, they pass long corridors filled with shade and stray glass, his shoes crunch.
"When the first cases of disappearances began to crop up, how did you react?" He began to lightly tread on more sensitive questions, seeking to find the paper thin balance between fishing out answers and keeping Dandicus' mood from souring too much. "I had to be the pillar of professionalism and maturity you know, keep everyone calm and working."
"Shelly said the same thing." He offhandedly notes, something sparks in Dandicus's eyes at the mention of his old coworker. "Shelly? Oh what a dear she was."
He could say that again. After her interview the poor woman kept apologizing for cutting it so short and Rodger had to reassure her about a bajillion times, enough so she wouldn't burst into tears given moments notice. It wasn't that big of a deal, he honestly doubted she had any intriguing information that would aid his case.Time for the atom bomb of a question, a real tsar in the world of mines, he prays silently this one good lead he wont loose for this."And with Devan Reed's death, how did that affect you and the rest of the cast?" Dandicus stops abruptly, wrong question Rodger thinks with a sense of defeat. "He was my superior, i knew him very well." Dandicus begins, pain flashing behind his eyes. "I missed a few days of work, tried to fight the uphill legal battle of keeping Gardenview running. Failed ultimately." There's a somber smile on his face.
"That's unfortunate." He remembers bits and pieces, he was a freshly young adult when the center had caught his eye, he was never too interested in visiting and much too stressed to even give it a second glance, Toodles was much too young and cared more about old noir films he'd put on for her than flashy educational centers, which was odd considering he truly thought she would be ravenous about Garden View's entire shtick.
"Truly." Dandicus clears his throat as they come to a halt in front of a large panel striped with yellow. "This is the elevator lift thing," He waves vaguely at the steel door. "It used to be a major cornerstone of the building since we had a sort of level system. The rest of gardenview is underground, like deep-deep underground."
"Why would you build underground and not up?" Rodger inquires, glancing curiously at the lift. Dandicus' eyes glaze over. "Efficiency and money." He guesses that makes sense? He isn't exactly an architect and more so an engineer, but he can presume the entire idea was too attractive to pass up.
"Hm intriguing. I wonder-" He pauses. A feeling of sudden realization overcomes him, as if he's forgotten something extremely important just itching in the back of his mind simmering beneath the surface or just at the tip of his tongue.
Where was his daughter?
Rodger hisses, the notepad shuts with an audible thwump as he quickly shoves it in his pocket, glancing around like a madman. "Toodles- Oh dear- Where did she run off to?" He exclaims cups his hand over his mouth. "Toodles! Toodles!"
"I'm sure she's near, she couldn't have wandered off far." Dandicus places a reassuring hand on his shoulder that feels more like a handful of bugs crawling under his skin, it's unnerving to an eerie extent. "We wandered off far- She was at the kiosk and now we're in the depths of the building, i was so absorbed i didn't even realize we where-"
"Let's go look for her then." Rodger shivers at the smile Dandicus gives. He assumes it's supposed to reassure him but it does the opposite.
They walk back towards the main lobby, in retrospect he should've realized Toodles would've gotten lost had he brought her with him to such a large building. The lobby is empty, filled with an uncanny atmosphere caked with dust and debris. He yells a few times, kicking cinder blocks and checking under counters.
Empty like he expected. Toodles was somewhat a runt for her age, she could fit into small cramped spaces making her excel at hide and seek much to Rodger's detriment. He glanced back at Dandicus, there was something so painfully familiar about getting lured to a crime scene and losing sight of his daughter.
A caution taped staff only door caught his eye, it blended into the muted run down look the rest of the interior adapted but the door was slightly left ajar, dust piled at the rim noting it had been opened today.
He looked back towards Dandicus. The former star was leaning over the kiosk counter trying to find his daughter. He looked back to the staff only door. His hand grabbed the handle and gently eased it further.
"Toodles?" Nervous sweat coated his palms, sticky fear filled the back of his mind. The shadowed room creeped into view like the beginning of a cheesy overdone horror movie, dust peeled off of the handle onto his palm, he felt the air run cold and still.He felt so goddamn stupid for dropping his guard, she was clever, young, and worst of all curious. This was one hell of a serial killing case, poured so much money into finding nothing and for what? He wasn't dumb, he
felt
dumb but he knew well he was intelligent enough to realize Dandicus knew more than he let on.
"Toodles-" He chokes out nervously as big familiar round eyes peer from the darkness. "Dad! Look- Look!" She scuttles over like an overexcited penguin and thrusts a dust covered tape into his hands. They shake as he curls his fingers over the tape and he has to manually close his jaw out of fear and shock.
"Toodles, never ever do that again." Her expression shifts to something regretful, she twiddles her thumbs and wobbles her bottom lip as she mouths a quiet 'sorry'. He's about to reprimand her again out of pure deep rooted fear but a cold callous hand on his shoulder shocks him.
"Everything alright? Seems you found your daughter thankfully." Dandicus' voice is icy smooth lacking usual authenticity. He swallows his fear and quickly pockets the tape out of view, watching Toodles beam up at the former attraction host looming over his shoulder like a sinister shadow.
He nods shakily, grabbing Toodles' hand and quickly vacating the staff only room. He watches with a suspicious gaze as Dandicus quietly shuts the door, sealing off the mysterious staff room."Well i think that's all for today." He clenches his hand around Toodles', his daughter shoots him a curious look. "Oh? Well, let me walk you then." Dandicus offers, by the glint in his eyes Rodger can tell this isn't an offer.
Toodles peels her hand out of his and bounds out of the educational center with enthusiasm, skipping outside and down the yard towards the front gates. Rodger feels too shaky to mimic that unbridled optimism and instead lingers back as Dandicus keeps a watchful eye on him.
It's unnerving, bugs under his skin,
he feels himself grow clammy and uncomfortable under Dandicus' watchful gaze.The cobblestone steps are sleek and glossy with water, a light shower had battered San Francisco earlier when they had been exploring the abandoned building with such intrigue they hadn't realized, Rodger tries to shake the uncomfortable tightness in his chest.He takes a step and in his blank stupor his heel doesn't catch the step, instead sending him careening backwards, he scrunches his eyes and flails his arms, ready to feel the bite of cobblestone on his face but two warm hands land on his back.
"You alright?" Dandicus' smooth voice interrupts. No, not very much, getting a little too close to braining himself on the front steps on an abandoned establishment spoke volumes. Dandicus helps right him, he feels Dandicus' hands linger on his back before they reluctantly retreat. "Yes- Thank you."
Dandicus looks thoughtful for a moment, hands swaying listlessly at his side, Rodger feels anxiety brew in his chest so he fishes fourth relief in the form of sweet tobacco infused cancer sticks, god beyond if any dumb warning on the label would deter him from some actual anxiety deterrent.
"Depth perception, hm?" Dandicus closes his left eye and taps it, startling Rodger into grazing the left side of his face with his hand absentmindedly. "Ah, uhm."
His hand ghosts over the burn mark scorching half of his face across his permanently closed eye, questions brewing on the tip of his tongue that he swallows."I have a friend. He tends to miss cups and steps." Dandicus' smile turns into something less faux, it curves with fond reminiscence. "Astro Novalite, you know? Worked with me at Gardenview." His gaze is piercing as Rodger lights up a smoke and places it on his shaking lips. "Ah. He rejected my proposal."
"I'm sure it wasn't personal, he just doesn't like being perceived much."
Rodger can attest to that, the way Dandicus' gaze lingers on the large stretch of scar tissue across half of his face. It's downright uncomfortable.
There's an unwelcome pause, it's cold and awkward leaving Rodger staring at the faint smoke curling in the air as a scapegoat for not meeting Dandicus' gaze. It's weird, the conflict brewing in his head isn't new, it's very much commonplace but around Dandicus he felt his previously impervious shields suddenly about as useful as a torch in a storm.
"Mind me asking how it happened? Doesn't look genetic." Rodger splutters at the bluntness of the question, usually people tend to tread lightly around sensitive topics but Dandicus didn't waste any time, probably a trait gained from being an slick entrepreneur, what a charmingly straightforward nature, he might even envy the fallen star for the level of ignorance he displays."Aha- No, not at all." He clears his throat, taking a long relieving drag before delving into a monologue. "When i was young, someone set fire to our house. Killed my mother, i was sleeping so i didn't realize before it was too late." He pauses, taking another long puff,
cold air curls in his chest at the recollection of past events. He's not all too sure about the ethics of dumping all of this pent up trauma onto a stranger, but to be fair Dandicus
did
ask, grim tale or not."Is that why you're a detective?" Rodger hums, glancing at the setting sun in the distance painting the sky in purple hues. Reminds him of carbon smoke and bleary eyes. "I guess. They never caught the perpetrator. I was so mad, i thought i could do it myself, but well, i was eleven." There's pity in Dandicus' eyes. He loathes being pitied, he bites back a scoff and drops the cigarette, snubbing it out with the heel of his shoe. There's a bitter taste coating the back of his throat, he swallows twice hoping it's just the tobacco.
It doesn't get easier, he's done the exact same song and dance indulging people in their curiosity lest he get access to satiate his own, each time it still stings like a fresh wound he'd never recovered from. Dandicus doesn't seem like the type of guy who would have the capabilities to sympathize, that blank empty gaze sparking with figments of emotions.
"Truly noble of you, i hope they catch whoever did that." Rodger regards the stout man for a moment, lone eye crinkling with distrust. "The case went cold." Dandicus only hummed.Instead of replying with something comforting, as per user manual 101 on how to be a human would dictate, Dandicus instead breaks into a wide grin and gazes towards the sky. "No wonder you took up our case then. Feeling sentimental as i would, though i suppose i shouldn't compare." Rodger startles, looking perturbed.He shifts and rifles in his pockets, pulling out a crumpled note. "I wasn't really willing to aid you on this considering i've lost my enthusiasm for catching the guy responsible, but i feel you and i are quite alike." He hands Rodger the note, in lies an address. "I'll give my old colleagues a call, see if i can persuade them into giving you a fighting chance. Meanwhile, i think you should talk to Vee."
It's the address to a studio apartment on his street, a few ways away from his house but he remembers it. A gameshow, something something quiz. Odd how Dandicus only divulged this information after Rodger decided to spill his guts after nearly cracking his head open but to each their own, he assumes the guy must be one hell of a closed door.
"Thank you." He replies, gently running his thumb over the creases in the paper. Dandicus' smile is sheltered, quiet like waves lashing against the shore as he blinks owlishly at Rodger. "Of course."
"I'll keep in touch if i find anything." Doubt rolled over his shoulders in waves, he suppresses the urge to push Dandicus away and instead he pulls the corners of his mouth into a smile, it's strained but the man seems to appreciate the gesture.
"Stay safe friend." A shiver washes down his shoulders.He walks down the cobblestone road down the yard, towards the gates left ajar and an enthusiastic Toodles, his daughter is ways away stomping in rain puddles with her running shoes, silently he curses his lack of weather forecast checking and not fitting her with those little yellow rainboots he had splurged on.Shooting Dandicus a single fleeting glance over his shoulder, he watches the former star shuffle backwards and close the door to the establishment behind him with a soft click, the air feels lighter as if that single act had shut some unperceivable evil inside the establishment with a single door.
"Come on Toodles." She trots over and grabs his hand as he tries to rub the persistent headache between his eyes away, Toodles grins at the puddles and clutches her toy magnifying glass stained with rain and dirt it had accumulated from her splashing in puddles."What am i going to do with you?" He exhales fondly, a small smile playing on his lips as Toodles beams up at him. He ruffles her hair, pushing the navy hat farther onto her head earning him a few giggles from her.
He sniffs the lingering smell of smoke and smog down his throat and ignores the tang of charred wood resting on his mind.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
He looks up, and up, and up. "What an egotistical way of building." He groans.
Exchanging a few emails with the rising gameshow host, he managed to land an interrogation date disguised as an interview. He painted a picture of some greenhorn journalist fresh out of university ready to pick up any gig and interview any semi-celebrity ready to accept his proposal. It would boost her reach anyway.
"This is exaggerated even for me." He rolls his eye and walks through the automatic sliding doors, marveling at the inside infrastructure. At the front desk sat some scrawny fresh receptionist nervously shuffling documents and sending a piercing glare at the phone sitting innocently quiet on the handle.
"Excuse me." He cleared his throat, gliding over towards the front desk. The receptionist startles, eyes wide as she stutters and composes herself. "Yes- Hello! Sorry, how can i help you?" Her smile is wobbly far from the standard customer service charade, possibly a newer hire."I'm looking for Vee Mayday? I have an interview scheduled with her." He pulls out his wallet, flipping it open to display his legal police license. He watches the receptionist tense up, her mouth thinning as she nods. "Of course- she's on the top floor studio, you'll see the button, i'll call to let her know." She smiles disarmingly, hand hovering over the phone.
Cold welcome he thinks. Though he supposes not many are calm and collected once faced with a legal license such as his, as a detective he still belonged to the government."Thank you." He politely ducks his head and weaves towards the elevator, this one is slim and proper, all modern full of that faux glossy shine a complete juxtaposition to Gardenview's run down dilapidated shack of an elevator shaft. It pings robotically, and the doors slide open smoothly as if the hinges where just buttered a few seconds prior.There's a carpet laid on the floor of the elevator, he pauses. His shoes scuff the carpet and for a moment he feels the inate divide between Gardenview and this exact building, it runs so very deep from the sleek design to the smell of rich perfume in the air.
But, as if he's in a comedy, the elevator hums with the tune of Clair De Lune. He remembers it faintly, back in the day Gardenview lobby would have Clair De Lune playing in the background from the overhanging speakers at all times during the day. It would get a little annoying sometimes but it was never changed. He remembers watching videos, Clair De Lune faintly thrumming in the background.
The elevator doors slide open, it was by far the smoothest elevator ride he's ever been on. His complex has an elevator, but it's been out of service since the nineties' and he has no doubt it will stay that way until they decide to bite the economical bullet and remove the thing.
The studio is bright and loud, lights flash in his face and he covers his eyes for a moment, it's a huge setup stage props littered around as staffers frantically dash from one area to the next with boom mics and scene cards.
"Rodge'?" He knows that voice. Whipping around he's faced with Glisten's curious peer, he's dressed to the nines' in glittery frills and an unorthodox amount of bows, i mean seriously, who needs that many pink bows? "Glisten?"
"My! What pleasure do i have to be graced with you presence here?" Glisten's face breaks into a large shit eating grin, he has to restrain himself from decking the guy in his prissy face caked with so many layers of makeup it's practically flaking. "No pleasure i'm not here for you." Rodger rolls his eye, rolling up his sleeves."Of course you are." Before he can even think to protest, Glisten's arm winds around his and he's suddenly pulled along for a ride he most definitely didn't consent to. Glisten drags him around towards the side of the studio out of direct pathing of staff and once they're out of the lime light he digs his heels in and stops.
"Rodge'." Glisten clicks his tongue, smile melting from his face as a scowl adorns it. "Glisten." He mimics, adjusting his sleeves.
"I'd say i'm surprised but i'm really not. Seriously? Haven't you tortured Teagan enough with your silly economic escapades?" He flicks his wrist, gently brushing a strand of pale gold from his face. "Trifling subject, could you point me to the nearest exit? I've changed my mind you see."
"God hopes you have." A
thwack
reverberates through the studio, causing them both to flinch.
Rodger peers behind a wall curiously, shooting Glisten a confused look as he places an arm on his shoulder. Glisten looks oddly nervous, lips pulled into a thin line and eyes hardened as he stares out into the open studio. It's as if all bustling activity had instantly been paused, staff stopped in their tracks to watch.Vee was standing on the studio set, he couldn't possibly hear what she was rambling on about underneath her breath, she was holding one of the payphones up to her ear, angrily whispering. He remembered her with short jet black hair but this version of Vee was different, more toned and defined, hair in a choppy green bob framing her sharp face perfectly. It was downright scary how much she had changed from the days of Gardenview.
"Oh she's upset. Might wanna postpone that interview Rodge'." Glisten hums, looking nervous even from hiding behind a wall. "Can't be worse than you when you're upset." He huffs, Glisten fondly nudges his shoulder.
The air bends with malicious intent around Vee as she slams the phone back onto it's holder. He watches with a baited breath as she stands still, shoulder's rising and falling as she breathes through her anger before whipping around and facing the rest of the scene.
"My cue." He hums thoughtfully, readjusting his cravat neatly and gently dusting the lapels of his suit, he had picked the finest one for this exact moment. He feels pressure on his shoulder and he turns to face Glisten who's staring at him with concern prickling in his eyes. "Be careful Rodge', she bites."
"She's not a shark." He snorts, Glisten rolls his eyes. "If reincarnation was real then she would be a shark in her second life. Trust me, tread lightly when she's upset."
"You sure know how to talk to women, huh?" Glisten pushes his shoulder playfully, a tiny grin on his face. "Oh stop, you know i don't swing that way." He shrugs lightly. "More for me."
Glisten watches with intense interest as he weaves by staffers to reach Vee, the gameshow host barely pays him any mind as he trots his way up towards the stage, her hands only on her phone.
"Excuse me?" He clears his throat, peering up nervously at Vee. Her gaze barely flickers to him, thumbs still rapidly tapping away at her phone. "Yeah, uh-huh, light fixture fourteen needs to be moved a few degrees to the left, ask for Tommy." She prattles off with a level of nonchalance usually displayed towards the lowest class of workers in the industry food chain."Uh, no, i'd like to talk with you please. My name is Detective Rodger Dankovsky." He fumbles with his wallet, flashing his ID up towards Vee.
He watches a mirage of emotions filter on her face before she settles on a miffed scowl, thumb quickly deleting the message she had been typing up. "Right. Right." She sighs, annoyance flickering on her face for a second as she waves vaguely at him, he tries his utter best not to awkwardly penguin shuffle out of the way."Come on then." She steps off of the stage, quickly weaving past the staff with long impatient strides, he has to jog to keep up with her pace. Passing Glisten huddled around a wall he shoots him a curious look, Glisten only gestures nervously for him to keep walking.
After a good handful of turns and him nearly loosing complete track of the gameshow host, Vee finally comes to an abrupt stop in front of a staff door adorned with pictures of well, herself? He briefly swallows a laugh at the absurd design choice and follows Vee through the doorway.
It's a staff break room she's lead him into, various members of staff sit splayed out on couches or fold up plastic chairs on their phones but as the door falls shut and Vee's heels click against the linoleum suddenly, as if methodical, they spring into action and filter out of the break room like a cascading waterfall, it's a sight to behold.
Vee nods affirmingly and gestures to one of the plastic chairs now unoccupied. He quickly takes a seat and clears his throat. "So, do you mind if i record this conversation?" He slips out a tape recorder from his pocket, a trusty device to catalogue his interviews. Vee glares at it with disdain, surprising for a woman who's always on live television, though he shouldn't judge."Sure. Make this quick alright?" She huffs, sitting down on the couch and spreading her limbs out to claim the entire length of it. He nods awkwardly, positioning the tape on the table as neatly as possible, he's not too sure it'll pick up Vee's voice entirely, them being a whole couch length apart."Ready?" He asks quietly, adjusting his notebook. Vee grins, it feels phony. "As i'll ever be."
Click. "This is Detective Rodger Dankovsky, badge number Three-Eight-One, the time is six hundred on a Monday and i'm here with miss Vee Mayday investigating the Gardenview casefile four-five-six."A pause.
"Would you.. Like to introduce yourself?" Patience. "Sure thing." Utmost patience and delicate handiwork, it's an art not to piss her off.
"Vee Mayday, run the daytime television channel, the morning quiz, all of that. I'm a trivia host, i was previously a general manager at Gardenview and hosted the trivia shows for children. Guess my occupation didn't change much." A bark of laughter."Who did you work under?"
"Ah, Veronica Hurley!" There was a beat of sudden silence. "I do miss her sometimes. She was great mind you, i feel like i came off with the wrong idea. I loved her! Great woman, a real idol."
"I actually looked quite like her. If you look back on previous clips you'll see. We where practically sisters, how alike we looked."
"That's nice." Scribbling, Vee sniffled impatiently.
"How did you feel when she went missing? Was she acting different the day before her disappearance?""Sad, ya'know. I know i seem impassive to all of this but it hit hard for me. She seemed like her usual self, maybe a bit more closed off and oddly quiet but generally normal."
"Did she have and previously... Unknown factors that could've... Influenced her, ahem, disappearance?"
Sounds of cushions squeaking as Vee sat up straighter. "Well, not exactly. She was always somewhat closed off and quiet but you're asking about the bigger issues i presume?"
Quiet overcame the recording as Rodger nodded. "None of that then, not that i know at least. Maybe she just didn't trust me enough to divulge, who am i to say?" A pause. "Who am i to say." She scoffed.
"Ah, um, alright." Rodger stuttered out nervously, clicking his pen. "Well, do you remember a higher up? I asked Shelly about someone filling the chairman position but she only mentioned Dandicus, which quirks my interest as Dandicus' legal position is general head manager but the documents clearly show someone by the name of-"
"Okay, what do you even have to gain from this?" Vee snappishly butted in. Rodger stumbled over his words, clearing his throat. "Whatever do you mean?"
"Seriously, take it at face value, all you need to know is that we worked under Dandicus, that's it. Even our section managers reported directly to him, what else could you possibly gain by sticking your nose into this?"
"Vee- Apologies- Miss Mayday, i'm not quite sure how this is pertaining to the subject at hand-"
"Turn off the tape."
"Miss Mayday-?"
"I said turn the tape off."
A long, painfully long pause. Before Rodger sighed defeatedly.
Click.
"How did it go?" Glisten smirked slyly, that same little shit-eating grin he had flashed him the moment he stepped into this blasted building. Rodger groaned and huffed out an exhausted breath. "About as well as you'd think. I'm banned from coming back here."
"Woaw!" Glisten bats his wrist. "Don't say i didn't warn you, i surely did. Didn't expect her to full on ban a detective from her studio though, doesn't shock me as much as it should in the end." He grins wolfishly.
"Oh fuck off, i'm seriously not in the mood for this." He rubbed his nose bridge, she had demanded he turn his tape off and then subsequently chewed his ear off for ten minutes straight before booting him out and banning him from her studio. Not like he was planning on ever coming back."Mind the door on your way out." Glisten lightly urges him towards the elevator lift, nervously peeking over his own shoulder to make sure Vee wasn't in the near vicinity to chew his own ear off right after. Rodger lets himself be pushed towards the elevator and exhales defeatedly.
The elevator ride is smooth again as always, he spends it resting his elbows on the rails and desperately trying to chase away the frustration building up, listlessly glancing at the clear glass backing displaying the entire front lobby as the elevator descended. The tape in his pocket felt awfully heavy, like an anchor weighing him down even though he knew that was practically impossible, well in the metaphorical sense. Like a heavy weight of morality had been placed on his shoulders.
It wasn't his first time getting such a stark rejection, he'd been punched before in cold barren interrogation rooms as flimsy handcuffs broke with just a few tugs. He ghosted his hand over his cheek in reminiscence, they should really intend on getting new handcuffs for future references.
Ah, of course now he was a mere foot soldier lugging himself like some wan greenhorn journalist on foot scouting opportunities dodging mortar fire in the name of truth, or well, morsels of it.The idea of quitting was always a thought swimming in his head.
He doesn't entertain the idea for long, the elevator doors slide open and he glides out, not sparing the receptionist more than a firm nod before quickly and shamefully ducking out of the building with his tail tucked between his legs.
Better luck next time, he thinks idly as he waves down a cab.
His phone vibrates, muted but still garnering his attention, pulling it free he notes in a rather unimpressed air as Teagan is calling him. Could the day get any worse? No beating around the bush now, picking up the call he swallows the bitter taste in the back of his throat and neatly slides his usual tone into place like a stage performer. "Y'ello?"
"Rodger darling, how are you?" Her lilt is still just as grinding as ever, like a tightrope dancer delicately balancing on a line of annoyance. "Fine, just got out of work, what's the occasion? You rarely call without an ulterior motive."
"Ulterior motive! Oh you're hilarious." Soft giggling from the other end interrupted his thoughts, swimming in contradicting feelings he could only hold the phone tighter and suck in a breath through his teeth.
"Oh sweetheart i'm just calling because i've gotten a curious visitor today, truly intriguing, she inquired about your, er, therapy."
"Brightney? God- i told her-" He hisses, agitation quickly seeping through his voice.
"Is it true? Have you quit therapy?" Teagan quickly interrupts, her firm voice commanding absolute truth. He stills, gaze flicking up to the cab driver silently dialing up the music. "Yeah." He admits, not a shred of shame flicking through his words, he didn't care enough to dwell unlike Brightney it seemed.
"I truly thought better of you, Rodger, christ, what are you even doing? You can't just drop therapy, you can't just continue to ignore me, or Brightney, or Glisten,- You get it. I worry about you, more than legal documents care to paint us as some sort of wholly divided couple."
He tuned out the larger sections of Teagan's ranting, he knew it would come to bite him in the ass, just he hadn't expected it be so soon. Brightney was just as snoopy as he was, no wonder she somehow found out, he should've never let her in for a visit that day and left all those documents out in the open.
"That's my decision Teagan, not yours or hers. I get you're upset but i've got better things to focus on." He hears Teagan splutter, it's uncharacteristic as she's usually so prim. "You don't think that maybe working out the shit that made us inevitably fall apart doesn't somehow fall into your categorical importance?"
"Okay, please let me sympathize with you, i get you're hurting and you think that healing is somehow less important to you, but you'll always be like this unless you put in the work to try." Teagan's line devolves into silence, he picks up on the general idea but decides to prod anyway. "Be like what? What's
this
to you?"
"You know what i meant." She snaps, voice falling into that familiar tone she uses when she's close to arguing so he quickly retreats, it's better not poking the sleeping bear anyway. "Sorry, yeah i get it."
"Then?" That expectant voice, Rodger feels queasy at the implications. He hates it, feeling pressured. "I'll think about it."
"Thank you-" He hangs up quickly before Teagan can try to convince him again with bartering, a dirty move that she tends to fall to when he stubbornly disagrees.
The phone falls limp in his hand onto his lap, he watches the ended call screen until it disappears leaving the pitch black void of his phone left. He misses phone booths, the chimes of coins and being entirely shut out from the world once the door closes, it's an entirely separating feeling from just using his phone like normal.
He looks up and startles as the cab driver stares directly at him, eyes awkwardly piercing. "Uh, didn't wanna' startle ya' but you're at your destination, so..." Rodger nods quickly, nervously laughing to expel some of that awkward tension. "Of course- Sorry, thank you again."
Quickly exiting the vehicle he straightens his suit and climbs the steps up towards his front porch, familiarity seeping into this routine as he rests his hand on the handle of the door and turns.
"Pa-" Toodles barrels into his knees, grinning up at him excitedly and swiping her face free of snot. He hides an internal grimace. "Can you turn on the- the black and white show?"
He stifles a laugh, the
'black-and-white-show'
was codeword for that silly little children's detective rendition running on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, she was exempt from going to school as she sniffled and spluttered out a sneeze.
"Of course lass, let me take my coat off first." She sprints into the living room, still in her plain pyjamas from yesterday. He quickly slips his coat from his shoulders and hangs it on the rack, idly thinking of giving Toodles a bath sometime evening.
"Hungry?" He asks, stretching and flicking the television on, browsing channels as Toodles impatiently hopped onto the couch. "Mmm, yeah a lil!" She squealed as he landed on the cartoon she was desperately begging for. "It's 'Little' lass, you forgot the T."
But she wasn't paying attention, her gaze rapt on the shenanigans the two main leads got up to with their comically large trench coats and spy glasses. He sees where she had gotten the magnifying glass idea from, though he thought she would burn anthills with it instead of well, actually looking at crime scenes.Everything feels fuzzy around the edges as he contemplates Teagan's worried inquiries, it's not that he didn't believe in her it's just, a bit exhausting. He'd been chasing bum leads all day at work, he doesn't need to do the same when he's supposed to be
relaxing, that's quite literally the opposite!
And well, he's been getting better anyway. It's not like therapy was doing much more than everyday living did. Exposure therapy and all of that stuff. Though he supposed if that where a true statement veterans would be the sanest of them all.
His phone buzzes in his pant pocket and he has to trample the urge to throw it across the room. Teagan didn't know when to quit even if it hits her in the face like a ton of bricks, it seriously couldn't wait?
Precariously balancing the spatula in one hand he wriggles his phone free, a few new messages filtered to the very top of his lock screen underneath all those weird game ads from mobile games Toodles had decided to mass download on his phone. It was a message from a contact he he hadn't saved the name from, just a string of befuddling numbers that he racked his brain to remember.
'Hello, not sure if this is unprofessional, but this is Rodger right?'
Followed by a hasty,
'This is Dandicus, i hope i didn't disturb you! Just wondering if we could chat?'
Hm, Rodger placed the spatula in the pan, letting the egg sizzle in the background as he leant his hips against the rim of the counter, pulling his other hand up to type out a response.
'Yes this is Rodger, what could i trouble you with?'
Just a simple professional conversation, he was probably inquiring about the case so- How did he get his number in the first place?
'Oh nothing much, i was going to ask back at the center about possibly convening through text about the progress of the case but it seems your visit was cut terribly short, i do apologize for that!'
That odd kindness again. It's not that he wasn't adverse to polite gestures, it just felt so faux coming out of a literal childrens mascot, like he was just another unruly child being taught manners with overly saturated flashcards and patronizing tones.
'No worries at all, i do suppose we could arrange that.'
'Great! How did the interview go?'
To the point, he chews the side of his cheek for a moment, debating a reply, maybe he should let him down gently, or lie.
'Not too well, i tried to pry some tricky answers but she booted me from her studio and banned me from returning. Unfortunate circumstances, though Shelly did manage to fit in an interview later this week which hopefully produces results.'
He waited patiently as the little bubble bobbed up and down, anticipating Dandicus' reply was a bit nerve wracking, maybe he should've cushioned it with a few lies.
'Oh no! That's a shame :( Vee doesn't take people prying or gloating very well so its not too surprising, she was always a very, hm..'
His thumbs tapped to reply but he paused as the bubble popped up again,
'High and mighty person, a bit too pompous and uptight if you'd ask me ;)'
That wink.
That fucking
wink, Rodger kicked off the counter to groan and run his hand through his hair, who did this guy think he was? Professionalism his ass, was he flirting in his own twisted way? With
him?
'Aha, yes i would concur if you'd keep my perspective hush hush, i am afraid of her opinion on me souring too much.'
A pause, he felt antsy just waiting for that blue bubble bobbing up and down, like some ominous omen.
'Of course dear detective, i'll keep it hush hush ha!'
Really? Dear?Oh, right, his eggs are burning. Turning around he stuffs his phone in the back pocket of his pants, quickly turning down the heat on the stove and remorsefully sliding the charred egg round in the pan, just his luck it was the last one in the dozen he'd bought.
Toodles would still eat it, she shovels down practically anything she lays her grubby little paws on either it be an actual meal or dirt from the sidewalk. Leaning over he opens the bottom cabinet and pulls out two bright yellow candies, hoping to barter for his daughters forgiveness for burning her egg."Done?" Her voice echoes from the living room, closing the cabinet with a swing of his hips he plates the charred creation and hums in affirmation, treading over towards the living room. "Yeah, sit up."
Her nose wrinkles with a grimace as he places the plate down in front of her, she makes an audible
'Eww!'
sound before poking it with a fork. "Sorry lass, i got a bit distracted." He ruffles her hair and falls onto the couch beside her, watching her shovel the eggs into her mouth as her attention was captured by the show in front of her.
Leaning over, he snakes his arm over the couch and grabs ahold of the half empty chip bag sitting discarded on the small couch-side table, pulling it into his lap and munching on them as he let his mind wander to the sounds of Toodle's cartoons.
His mind felt heavy with uncertainty, the day was making him more wary than usual, he still replayed the call with Teagan in his mind, over and over analysing every word she said. Her worries hadn't been unfounded, but he had neither the time nor energy to invest in himself like that, the way she wanted him to.
Plus, he had a kid to take care of. Teagan had given him one good look and barely put up a fight for custody, maybe that was one of the small mercies she had repeatedly granted him.
His hand idly retrieved his phone from his pocket, thumb hovering over the messages. He quickly changed Dandicus' contact to his actual name before shutting it off and placing the phone onto the couch-side table, going back to watching the cartoon with indifference.