Murphy

An afghan had been draped over her as she slept. Karrin was carefully laid out on her couch, as comfortable as she could be under the circumstances. In the very back of her mind, Karrin knew that she was being spoken to. That it was Harry doing the talking--his voice had that kind of register with her--and that he was saying something probably important.

“Bein’ aware of i’ an’ bein’ able to handle i’ are two very diffent things, luv.”, he drawled around the butt of his cigarette, looking down at her with a small tilt of his head. “An’ as for wha’ about ‘arry is my business or no’ … well, tha’s my business, now innit?”

@karrinmurphy replied to your post: “This is the third crime scene I’ve seen you at,…

Karrin didn’t smile back at him. She simply looked up at him in a way that spoke of nothing but suspicion and distrust. “That’s not something that helps your case.”

“Who said I was tryin’ to ‘elp my case, luv?”, he quipped and winked at her. “You give Dresden the same treatment when ‘e’s tryin’ to save your arse from ge’in’ dragged into somethin’ way over your pre’y li’le ‘ead?”

When he winked at her she rolled her eyes. I thought Harry was insufferable at times. No, he’s downright well behaved compared to this guy. I can already tell. Said insufferable nature only inched higher at his follow up. 

He could tell her that that wasn’t his problem. That he had a contract and that he would fulfill it one way or another. Her help would have just made it easier to get to Constantine.

Instead he shrugged and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket. “Think about it, Murphy.”, he just said and gave her one last nod. “I’d say ‘be seeing you’, but maybe we won’t.”

She had to hand it to him, he could have blown her off a few different times in the conversation. Murphy returned his nod with one of her own. An almost smile appeared. He’d see her quicker than she’d see him and Karrin knew it.

“Right.”, he drawled, sparing only a sideways glance for her. “If.”

Despite his desire to leave, he let her go through the door first, holding it for her. “You protecting Constantine because he’s friendly with Dresden?”, he couldn’t quite help the question.

Karrin was so focused on the conversation that she didn’t bother commenting about the way he held the door open for her. She stepped outside, head tilting back some as another disbelieving laugh escaped her. 

He could see the hesitation in her face. He knew what he wanted to ask and he didn’t like the direction the conversation was going. 

So he pulled himself up tall and shrugged. “She’s still human.”, he announced and turned away, starting towards the door while he was still speaking. “Think about the tracker. I’ll know  when you activate it.”

Being short as she was, she did end up having to hurry to catch up to him as he headed towards the exit. Didn’t anyone ever teach him not to walk and talk at the same time?! 

Bringing up the Archive actually flickered something unpleasant through his chest. “Good. Last we spoke.”, which had been when he had informed her about Dresden’s status. She had thanked him for the call and hung up.

He didn’t expect another call any time soon.

He looked around, their little conversation having caught some attention of the other patrons of the cafeteria and he contemplated using that as an excuse not to answer her. 

Instead, he looked back down. “It bothered me that his death might upset people.”, he answered finally. “He’s a good man. Ivy likes him.”

Karrin, so used to being stared at by her coworkers and the people that visit, was able to ignore the onlookers with practiced ease.