228|Informant—Part 1

Austin watched Gordon consult his notes, struck by how different he was from his partner. He was, in many ways, Peterson's total opposite.

He was a thin, fast talker with a shaved head and an almost fixed sardonic smile. His clothes and shoes weren't the most expensive or flattering, but they suited him somehow, giving him a far more professional look.

Austin knew they had one thing in common despite their physical differences: to make his life hell. And if he wasn't careful, if he so much as let his guard down, today wouldn't be the last of such visits—

Gordon cleared his throat and tapped his pen on the notebook, snapping Austin out of his thoughts.

"So," he said, handing the notebook to his partner.

"Detective," said Austin, crossing his legs as he drank his coffee. "I barely remember what I ate three days ago. How do you expect me to remember something that happened last month?"

The detectives shared another look, their silence loud and clear. They knew he was bullshitting them, an