She crossed her arms and ignored the comment. Every passing moment, I felt like Lenore pushed herself further and further away. I wanted her help on this. It was unexplainable; I worked alone and preferred it that way, but not with her. The second I’d seen how much research and work she’d put into this case, it was like I couldn’t bear the thought of removing her from it.

I would hate if someone took all my research and cut me out.

I kept repeating the thought, assuring myself there was a logical explanation. Something kept nagging at me, though. There was a reason I needed her, beyond just respecting someone’s work.

“You didn’t have to stay,” I noted as we finished up.

“I wanted to,” she shrugged, keeping any emotion from her face.

I hated feeling like I’d done something to contribute to her on and off displeasure with the day.

“I’m sorry for making you come all this way,” I tried, hoping it may help alleviate some of the growing tension.

She shrugged, adding extra tape to some of the hanging documents.

“I didn’t mind,” she said.

“Excuse me for being blunt, but it seems as though you did,” I noted.

I didn’t know how to be anything other than straightforward. I couldn’t tiptoe around emotions like some could. It was never a skill I honed.

“It’s not you,” she sighed.

She took a step back to admire our work. With everything hung, it really was beginning to look like something out of a cliché crime show.

“It feels a bit like me,” I said.

“Oh, you’re one of those men,” she said, raising her brows.

“What men? “

“The ones who think the world revolves around them.”

“I am not one of them,” I hurried to deny.

“Seems like it,” Len teased with a weak smile. “If you must know, my parents are coming to town.”

“And that’s bad?” I asked.

“Very,” she said quickly. “I’m unprepared is all. They are good people, but I’m not ready for them.”

“Impromptu visits aren’t really my favorite either, so I get it,” I said sincerely.

A look of relief washed over her face, like she’d been expecting judgement and was surprised to find none. A bit of her apprehension faded away, but I still saw that look in her eyes, the one telling me that something still ate at her.

I cleaned scraps off the table of papers we’d cut to hang and the practically empty food tray, carrying it all to the kitchen to clean and dispose of. When I returned, I found Len standing in front of our work, staring at the question mark representing the Jane Doe. She didn’t hear me.