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[ Her cape flutters in the warm and gentle breeze, a hint of ocean salt in the air. She might not have been keen on staying in Florida, but it was a beautiful state with gorgeous beaches. She makes a note to try and visit more often when she can. ]

I do like being straightforward. [ A light chuckle. Her toes reach the rooftop first before she plants her heels and her vibrant cape settles over her back. ] Although the name might say "girl", the costume says "woman".

Some people still get thrown by it.

[ It's picturesque, is what it is. When he thinks "superhero", this is the ideal. Someone like this, billowing cape, skin-tight costume, and a presence that's almost...inhuman. Spectres were supposed to be the same way, but when you were a spectre, and when you knew a spectre before they'd become one...it kind of granted an eerie sense of familiarity. Like it wasn't the same.

This though? This was someone who was beyond human. Out of this world. He took a step back, just to catch himself. ]

You sounded too old to be "girl" over the comms -- ah, I don't mean offense by that. I can't imagine anyone being that kind of an idiot, but I guess some people still are.

Works in my favor most of the time.

[ Mostly with the bad guys. It gets a short-lived chuckle from her and then she sobers her up, shoulders taut and hands curling into small fists. She levels her gaze, swallowing lightly. ]

Kaidan... can I call you that? [ The edges of her smile pull down. ] I have some bad news. I wanted to tell you earlier, but there was so much happening. Still... I'm sorry for not being able to contact you sooner.

[ That did get serious, and he was mostly struggling to try and figure out what brought it on. He didn't know her -- and she'd called before, when they were children, so it couldn't be anything to do with Shepard; he hoped. He tipped his head, but reacted instantly to how she sobered up, eyebrows drawn in worry. ]

You can call me Kaidan, but...

What is it? Did something happen?

[ She nods, but before she can carry on: ]

I need you to promise me you'll keep this between us.

[ As she's not "officially" apart of any investigation, the last thing Will Graham needs is someone blowing his case wide open. She has to do that much for him, as miffed as she is with his reluctance to accept her help. ]

Edited 2015-04-05 05:53 (UTC)

[ He paused. ]

Yeah, sure. I mean, we don't know each other, are you sure you want to tell me a secret?

I think you deserve to know.

[ And if he had no relations with Freddie Lounds, then there shouldn't be any concerns. ]

Freddie Lounds, was she a friend of yours? [ A beat. ] She was found murdered back in February.

[ A wince, and a sigh. He looked down, a touch sad. ]

Yeah, we were friends. Will told me about it recently. Said he was investigating but...

[ He didn't know how to handle grief well, unfortunately. He was a soldier. When he'd been a little greener, before the assault on the Citadel, he'd have mourned every soldier, and he did, in his own way. Moving on and taking care of business. That was how soldiers worked. ]

I hope they catch this bastard.

[ Well, that takes some of the weight off her chest, but she still looks on with guilt. This is probably one of the hardest aspects of this job. The loss of life, the people that have go on despite it... it's this senseless violence that she'll never understand. ]

I had no idea you were informed. I'm sorry for dragging it back up, then.

Kaidan... can I ask you a couple of questions?

[ Will might have ruled him out of the suspect list. She's got her own skepticism, but following up is vital at this point. ]

It's about the nature of your relationship with Lounds.

It's alright, and yeah, you can. Who knows? Maybe I can help in some way.

[ Said blithely, but with a twist of his lips. He doesn't like it, it's messy business -- murder like this. He didn't have to see it often, and he'd been investigated for murder before -- and been guilty, but...

Well, he'd never been tried. You couldn't try teenagers who'd been kidnapped for a secret, illegal project, could you? ]

What sort of things do you want to know?

[ She keeps a straight face as she asks: ] Were you and Lounds ever involved with one another?

Me and Freddie?

[ A scoff. ]

No. She, ah, came onto me once -- we were going out for drinks -- but I'd... I was already interested in someone else. [ He's been holding onto this flame for like three years. ] I wasn't the type to go for one night stands, anyway.

[ Her eyes narrow.

Something isn't adding up. ]

So nothing happened at all between you two? How did she react?

No? I mean, we're -- we were -- friends. She was embarrassed, but...who wouldn't be?

[ He shrugged, and tilted his head. ]

I mean, I know I'd be embarrassed.

Then you were both on good terms before she was murdered.

[ She cocks her hip, trying to make sense of Chilton naming Kaidan of all his patients. Maybe he was the only with a connection to Freddie? ]

Sure, I mean, I offered to help her, if someone came after her. It seemed like they might, with Lunatic. I always told her what I thought about what she'd done. When she pulled the thing about imports...that -- It wasn't right.

But she knew I disagreed, and she knew why. I didn't respect her choices, but she...had a good heart in there. As difficult as it might've seemed sometimes.

[ Chilton's words may be at the back of her mind, but so are Jaime's, and her gut feeling is telling her Jaime knows Kaidan better than Chilton does. ]

Sounds like you two were close enough. [ She lifts a hand to place onto his shoulder in a comforting gesture. ] I'm very sorry about, Kaidan.

It's... yeah. Thanks.

[ He sighed, but didn't move her hand. ]

I'm used to losing friends, I've... lost some pretty important people in my life. But Freddie didn't deserve whatever happened to her. Murder? That's worse than dying on the battlefield. At least then you go down swinging. Murder just feels dirty -- wrong.

No one does.

[ She pulls her hand back, placing it against her hip. ]

This is might seem random, but given everything I have to ask: is Dr. Chilton your psychiatrist?

Doctor Chilton? [ He rubbed at the back of his neck, a bit sheepish. ]

Yeah, but I'm a bit bad about seeing him. Why? Do you think he did something?

To Lounds? I don't think so. They were close in their own way.

[ He seemed indebted to her and genuinely so. ]

Are you both getting along?

Aaaaas far as I know? [ He draws out the A -- consternation on his face. ]

This is a weird direction to take things.

Dr. Chilton pointed me in your direction. He seemed to have... concerns.

Me? Concerns?

[ He took a step back, eyebrows knitted in consternation. ]

Did he give a reason?

I was looking for anyone who had any ongoing feuds with Lounds.

[ Trying to assemble a suspects list, and Chilton gave her Kaidan's name. ]

You're both telling me very different stories.

[ So, he can see where the issue lies. ]

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