THE AIR WAS DAMP with the kind of humidity that only really ever seemed to spawn in rainy cities. Not like the refreshing breath of fresh air of the country side, but something thicker, heavier, that felt like it would coat the lungs if one breathed in too deeply. Not something she would usually notice while out on a case - but this one was different. Not every case had her returning to the scene of all her late teenage trauma, the death of her mother. It was all Grace could do to take in as many deep breaths as she could, to focus on anything else besides the fact she was going back to that place.
So when a hand started waving in front of her face to where she stared down an alleyway filled with trash and yellow ribbon, she startled a little and stepped back. Clearly she had been zoned out enough to get to where she needed to go, but not to notice a police officer in front of her.
“ S-Sorry, w-what was that? ” she asked, before registering him saying the zone was off limits.
“ O-Oh - uh … Right - um … ” she stumbled over her words for a moment before she remembered her badge and then quickly went scrambling for it, taking it out of her bag to show him.
“ I-I'm FBI, my name is Grace, Grace Ashcroft - ” she said quickly, finally taking a quick peek up at his face. He was young, maybe even younger than her which was startling in a way. But he had a classically handsome face, even as his brows furrowed and he spoke, he seemed kind, despite Grace's clumsy introduction.
