New Management [Sloane, Renee]

[Charlie Davis]

Charlie pulled up in front of the little precinct, a slight grin already on his face. Okay. First day on the job. Charlie had taken a little time off to get himself in order and do some research on the town that he had finally moved to. Turns out, pretty much everyone who had already been at Pilot Ridge had retired. Which was weird. Turns out, the only one left from the old Force was this girl named Sloane. Charlie adjusted his coat and hopped out of his car. He had come a little early because he knew there was going to be a meeting. Apparently they were under new management anyways, so their new boss was going to have some kind of introductory…thing.

Pushing open the door, Charlie was once again struck by the emptiness in the building. “Uh…hello?” He asked, hoping he wasn’t the only one there. That would be weird.

[Renee Farley]

Renee dropped the latest stack of paperwork on her new desk and sighed. Looked like it was going to be nothing but desk work from here on out. Although she didn't regret moving to Pilot Ridge, it felt awfully small at the moment.

But this was where she needed to be. She'd made her choice. Besides, she had a chance to make some changes here. What with her new position and the fact that most of the old force was retiring (suspicious—had there been some sort of scandal? She needed to look into that), she could shape the Pilot Ridge police department into a more effective crime fighting force.

Renee pictured the types of crime that improved force would likely face and snorted. As if in response, a voice called out a greeting.

“I’m back here,” Renee said loudly. She stepped out into the hallway, where a man around her age was waiting. He had to be one of her fellow officers, but looking at him, she had her doubts. She’d had rookies who seemed more intimidating. Everything about him, from the smile on his face to the way he bounced on the balls of his feet, suggested an overgrown puppy.

“Renee Farley,” she said, sticking out her hand.

[Sloane Deveraux]

Stirring the coffee in her hand, Sloane was actually finally enjoying the peace she was getting after months of chaos. Budget cuts, she was told but she knew better. Or at least she thought she knew. Her old task force had been negligent and in turn, brought her down as well. But she had fought to stay, God had she fought. Pepere would have been proud. But it didn't change the fact that she had been part of a mistake. A mistake that had caused damage to her supposedly peaceful town.

How could she have missed it? When she heard a call being picked up about a missing person, she had urged her senior to investigate it immediately. In Pilot Ridge, a missing persons report had to be taken seriously. But he had asked her to wait and as a subordinate, she had no reason but to follow instructions. That didn't mean she didn't follow up on it in her free time. It didn't help that she found nothing. It also didn't help that when she went into the office one day and found people packing their things up.

She had been called into the office and was told she was being laid off but Sloane wouldn't have anything to do with it and told the man who was assigned to let her go that she deserved to stay. Just because she couldn't do her job to the best of her ability, it didn't mean she was going to lie on her back and get steamrolled. There was a lot of yelling and the man finally conceded into letting the higher authorities get back to her personally.

Which was how she found herself still in the break room, stirring her coffee and kind of enjoying the quiet. That was, until she heard someone calling out a greeting and another replying to it. No, she did not recognise the voice. Which was why she set her mug back down and walked out to find two older people, well older than her anyway, shaking hands. Frowning, she approached them, her hand sliding to her back where she kept her gun.

"Excuse me, who...are you?"

[Charlie Davis]

“Charlie Davis, pleased to meet you.” Charlie responded brightly, reaching over to shake Renee’s hand enthusiastically, “So… new management.” He looked her up and down; she seemed to be a rather serious woman around his own age. She looked a little dubious at him, but Charlie was used to it. All in all, Charlie definitely thought he got a I’m-in-charge air from this woman. So he grinned, “You wouldn’t happen to be the new management, would ya?”

Then, there was a voice from over to the side, startling him a little. He turned to see a stern-looking woman at least a decade younger than he. Charlie looked from one serious-faced woman to the other. Well. This was gonna be interesting. He raised a surprised eyebrow when the younger woman’s body crouched defensively, reaching surreptitiously for where her firearm was undoubtedly being held. “Whoa, hey.” Charlie grinned, putting his hands in the air in mock surrender, “Easy there, soldier.” He laughed slightly, walking over and extending a hand, “Charlie Davis. I’m the new cop.” He looked a little curiously at Renee, not quite sure what to say on her behalf, if anything. “Um… might not be the only new cop…”

[Renee Farley]

Before Renee could answer Charlie and tell him that yes, she was the new management, a dark-haired young woman confronted them. To Renee’s disbelief, the woman’s first move was to reach for her gun. It wasn't a casual adjustment; it was the sleek, stealthy movement of somebody who was expecting to need it.

Renee hardly noticed Charlie’s banter. She was too busy trying to figure out why a rookie from a small town (assuming this woman was a local) would reach for her gun upon encountering strangers in her station. That was … ridiculous. It was hasty, unnecessary, and unsafe, and she was starting to entertain doubts about the mental stability of her co-worker. Assuming, of course, that this woman was a co-worker and not just some nutball.

When Charlie looked to Renee, obviously wondering what to say about her, she stepped forward and said, “I’m another new cop, and I’m also the new management. And I would like to know why you felt the urge to go for your weapon, officer.”

This had better be a damn good explanation.

[Sloane Deveraux]

When it was revealed to her that they weren't indeed out to kill her, Sloane relaxed her hand but not by much. Who knew if these two weren't some metas out to kill others? She knew enough about terrorist groups to know even metas have those. It was stupid to think otherwise. Not that that had helped her any with the sudden disappearances occuring around town.

The man approached her and Sloane regarded his hand carefully. So these are the new ones I have to work with? The dark-haired young woman thought to herself, biting her tongue from saying anything regretful. Which was a good call since the woman revealed her authority level immediately. Her question immediately made Sloane tense up. There really was no reason for her to inform this stranger of her own possibly nonsensical conspiracy theory so she took the simple road.

"Can't be too careful. Lotta weirdos running around." Wasn't her best, to be sure but the woman didn't need to know otherwise. She turned to the man who looked the friendlier of the two. Someone who would get on her nerves, she knew. Well, then again, the woman was likely going to get on her nerves too. Suffice it to say, this was not boding well for any of them. "I'd say pleased to meet you but circumstances aren't actually pleasant at the moment." Sloane said, looking from Charlie and on to the new management who was still nameless to her.

"Officer Deveraux." She took Charlie's offered hand finally, giving it a tight shake.

[Charlie Davis]

“Uh…” Charlie supplied helpfully, watching the tension between the two women. Renee had a point; the younger woman really had no call to go pulling her gun. He glanced down at his worn jeans and faded T-shirt. Maybe he looked a little suspicious. He glanced at Renee, who looked a great deal more professional than he did. Either way, this was awkward. It also piqued his curiosity. Was this young woman just paranoid, or was there a legitimate concern that he and Renee were not aware of? Something about Pilot Ridge had pinged the “mysterious” bell in his head and this younger officer’s caution (or paranoia?) wasn’t helping matters.

But Charlie knew that outright questioning wouldn’t work. At least for him. But that was okay; Charlie was very patient.

Instead, once the younger woman introduced herself—and said things that more or less confirmed his suspicions about something being up in this little town—Charlie grinned and shook her hand enthusiastically, “Nice to meetcha. That's a pretty name. You have a first name to go with it?” Just making casual conversation, an attempt to diffuse the situation. Hopefully it wouldn't annoy her.

He glanced at Renee, an easy smile across his face, “So, when should we get stuff started, Boss?” He figured that casually observing and being as nonthreatening as possible was a good plan. Besides, both these women kind of scared him a little.

[Renee Farley]

Lotta weirdos running around? thought Renee. Whether the “weirdos” were real or imagined, that deserved further investigation. Something about the grim way that the younger woman said “circumstances aren’t actually pleasant at the moment” resonated with Renee. Maybe her paranoia wasn’t totally unfounded.

She watched Officer Deveraux look at Charlie’s hand as if it were a poisonous snake, then shake it and introduce herself. It was good to have a name to put to her.

Renee was pleasantly surprised by Charlie’s reaction to Deveraux. By the way he raised his eyebrows, he was confused and concerned by her, but he broke the smothering tension in the room with a cheerful greeting. Renee mentally gave him brownie points—the man was smooth. The “Boss” helped, too. She was sure he wouldn’t challenge her authority, and she could already guess that Deveraux would.

When he asked when they should get stuff started, Renee replied, “Right away. But first, let me introduce myself. Officer Deveraux, I’m Renee Farley. We’ll let your little gun mistake go for now.” She held out her hand for Renee to shake.

[Sloane Deveraux]

She noticed that Charlie was trying to keep the air between them light despite the awkward Sloane had brought on, but she was still not convinced that it was enough. Not even when he complimented her name. She just didn't like the fact that these two were sent down to lead her when everybody else that she had actually known and was comfortable around were now gone.

"I prefer Officer Deveraux." She replied, a little too resigned to her liking. Why she was suddenly feeling depressed, she had no idea.

The boss' introduction was met with a forced smile and she gripped the other's woman's hand tight and shook it. "Thank you." She said, leaving the sarcasm out of the tone of her voice. Well, barely. "I have to ask though, what exactly will we be working on?"

[Charlie Davis]

Charlie cleared his throat, feeling a little awkward. Man, if this was what it was going to be like with these two, then he might as well have just stayed in San Francisco. It wasn’t as thought there wasn’t copious amounts of bickering there too. And at least there was less close quarters. Shifting from one foot to the other, Charlie decided not to let it bother him. He’d just be friendly and polite to both women. Everything would work out. He slipped his hands into his pockets as Renee introduced herself to Deveraux (he suspected she was the briefly-mentioned Sloane from his own private investigations of the place, but there was no reason to make her feel uncomfortable).

And she was sarcastic too. Charlie made a nervous face, but said nothing as she shook Renee’s hand. “Maybe we should continue this sitting down,” He suggested lightly, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet, “Do you guys have a conference room or something?” It was an innocent question, and not meant to imply anything about the quality of the precinct. Even if it was a little lacking.

But still, tensions being as they were already, Charlie was well aware he was wandering about in a minefield with these two stern women.

[Renee Farley]

Charlie’s suggestion about the conference room was a good one, as was Deveraux’s question about what they would be working on. Honestly, Renee wasn’t sure how they were going to police an entire town, even one as tiny as Pilot Ridge, with only three officers. They were only human, after all—they had to sleep sometime.

“Deveraux, I’ll answer all your questions once we’re sitting down,” she said. “I think I saw a conference room back here somewhere. Since this is your precinct, why don’t you lead the way?”

As they walked down the hall, Renee hoped that acknowledging the other woman’s expertise, even in a small way such as this, would help smooth things over. But if Deveraux was as crazy as she looked, she doubted it would help. She noted that Charlie also seemed aware of the tension, based on the way he kept glancing back and forth between them. He looked like a puppy expecting an imminent scolding. Apparently, his calm and grounding influence only went so far.

This is ridiculous, Renee thought. When I get these two sitting down at the table, we are going to start acting like officers of the law. We’ve got a lot to do. This never would have happened in Chicago, she thought ruefully.

[Sloane Deveraux]

Sloane picked up on Charlie's discomfort and thought it was time to tone down her attitude. They were her superiors no matter what. It would look really bad if she got on their bad side just minutes after meeting them. And Charlie seemed nice. Sort of. Much nicer than Renee to be sure. The woman just did not sit right with her.

The mention of the conference room and Renee's attempt to get on Sloane's good side was duly noted but it didn't make her any less welcoming of the older woman. "Yeah, it's at the back." And as a token of good faith, Sloane asked if they wanted something to drink. "There's coffee and tea."

She walked in front of them to the conference room, where she opened the door and stepped aside for the other two to get in. She stood outside and waited for their response for the beverages.

[Charlie Davis]

Awwkwaaarrrd… Charlie’s brain supplied unhelpfully as the two women analysed each other. Renee seemed to know what she was doing, and was probably a little disgruntled with all the perceived unprofessionalism in the room. She was probably from a larger city, used to having a lot of order, not afraid to bend the rules a little, and expected people to follow her authority. Sloane, on the other hand, was a young and slightly rebellious officer who may or may not be a little overzealous, but a hard worker who chafed under authority that she didn’t believe earned it. This… could be a major problem.

He followed Sloane and Renee into the conference room, perking at the offer of coffee. “Oh! I’ll have some. I got it, thanks.” He ambled over to the coffeemaker and got to work persuading it to yield unto him some coffee. “So, should we do some more detailed introductions or something? Get to know who we’re working with?” He shot both women a charming smile, hoping that would soften them up a little.

[Renee Farley]

Renee accepted the cup of coffee that Charlie offered her with a brisk, “Thanks.” As the others took their coffee, she took a moment to gather her thoughts. Introductions were a good idea—maybe they would make Deveraux more willing to accept her authority, she thought, and snorted at herself.

“Right. You already know my name—Renee Farley—but you don’t know anything else about me, and you’re probably wondering why I’m here. Well, I was on the force in Chicago for over twenty years…”

She hesitated for a moment, wondering how much of her motives she ought to explain. Best to keep it simple.

“I got too old for Chicago,” she said with another snort. “I moved back east because I’ve got family here. I’m not here to turn this department upside down. I’m just here to do what I know how to do, and to do it the best I can. I’d like to figure out how we can become a good team. So if you could tell me about your history and your skills, that would be great.”

Renee sat back and sipped her coffee, waiting for the others to speak.

[Sloane Deveraux]

When Charlie came back with the drinks, Sloane accepted hers with a forced smile but sat without taking a sip of it. Renee started her introductions and Sloane managed to force back a harsh bark of laughter when she mentioned the curiosity Sloane felt as to why she was here in the first place.

Then the introductions were directed at her and Sloane looked down at her cup of still steaming coffee before deciding to just indulge in the inquiry. Careful not to mention her meta status, Sloane started. "Moved out here for school. I come from a long line of police officers so I figured, why not. Passed the exams, got ranked higher faster than my peers and here I am."

She finally took a sip of her coffee and turned to look at Charlie, not wanting to say anything else anymore.