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It started mostly because Luke wanted to be familiar with the local police department. After all, if Pearce Private Investigations was ever going to be a legit business, then he had to make sure that his documents and licenses were in order. And it couldn’t hurt to peek into the police department building and place a bug or two… or ten.
What can he say? He likes knowing things.
Fostering a good relationship with the police was also one of his main motivators to going to the police department. After all, he couldn’t do some interrogations without excessive force. Friends in the police force could hide what little evidence popping some joints would leave behind.
Which is why Luke was standing in the lobby of the police department. Alone. Now, he still hadn’t gotten into the swing of sales at Time’s Antiques, but he did know the first rule: never leave the front desk unattended. It's bad for business. So after placing three bugs on the front desk he decided that enough was enough.
“Excuse me? Hello?”
Commotion came from the backroom as one of the officers came out, rushing to meet Luke.
“So sorry about that sir! We normally don’t leave the front desk unattended but it’s pasta night.” The offending officer had the decency to look sheepish in his explanation. “Now, what can I help you with?”
Pasta night?
“No worries! I’d like to speak to Captain Darius Morgan if it’s possible.”
“Of course, what is the reason for your visit?”
Luke gave the officer a smile that he had perfected while training at the NSB. After all, looking less threatening and unassuming had done wonders for him before, “My name is Luke Pearce, I just established a private investigations office and wanted to introduce myself before I took any cases.”
The police officer nodded at him, “Alright if you could take a seat, Mr. Pearce, I’ll be happy to fetch Captain Morgan for you.”
“Thank you.”
Another smile for good measure and he was on his way towards one of the seats across from the front door. He was there for a full minute before the police officer returned with who he assumed was the captain.
“Detective Pearce I presume?” Said the captain, already extending his hand towards Luke. “Captain Morgan, at your service.”
Luke couldn’t help the smallest hint of pride rise in his chest as he stood up and took the captain’s hand, giving it a firm shake, “Luke is fine. Nice to meet you, Captain.”
“Right then. I was told you just started your agency? How long have you been in Stellis?”
“I’ve been here for two weeks, but I wanted to get started as soon as possible.”
The captain nodded, “That makes sense. I take it you’re here to provide your services to us then?”
“That and building a connection here.” Luke gave a shrug of his shoulders, “It’d be weird if I just showed up here and tried to barge my way into cases without at least a heads up. It’d feel robotic. Oh! Before I forget.” Luke opened his coat and unzipped a pocket from the inside, taking out a crisp manilla folder, “My paperwork and a copy of my seal.”
“Of course,” Darius took the folder from Luke, opening it and skimming it through, “Everything seems to be in order, though I will pass it on to another officer for a deeper run through.”
“I would expect no less. I do have a question, though.”
“Ask away, detective.”
“What is pasta night? I didn’t think it would be such a big event that would leave even your lobby unattended.”
Darius gave Luke a grin, “We’re normally more composed when it comes to pasta night, but it’s been ages since we had any. Gets the guys a bit rowdy. I’ll be sure to give Peterson a piece of my mind.”
“All that for pasta?” Luke asked, now fully invested in the story if it had the captain grinning.
“Tell you what, come to the back for a slice of lasagna and you’ll understand. It’ll be a good way to introduce you and build your rapport.”
“Of course, thank you for the kind offer.”
Darius started walking with Luke tailing behind him, “Oh this is a test in itself for us.” Darius opened the door to the back room where a dozen or so officers were greedily munching away at their slices of lasagna. “Alright everyone, this is our newest PI in the city, Luke Pearce. Serve him up a slice of lasagna. Oh, vegetarian, vegan, or regular?”
“R-Regular is fine.”
“You heard the detective!”
“On it Cap!” One of the more eager officers said, rushing towards one of the almost empty glass containers and cutting a slice out of it. All eyes were on Luke as the officer came up to him and handed him a plastic fork along with his plate. Well… if he was being monitored it meant that it wasn’t poisoned, right? So he took a bite.
Never had Luke thought that he would compare himself to the rat in Ratatouille.
“Holy shit! What is in this?” He asked, shoveling another forkful of lasagna to his mouth. The police officers whooped and laughed at him, some even clapping.
Darius clapped him on the shoulder, chuckling along with the rest of the team, “That was our test Detective. Anyone who doesn’t like the pasta from pasta night is a little less trustworthy to us. With that reaction though, you’ll fit right in.”
“Who made this? This is incredible!”
“One of the lawyers that frequent our precinct stress makes pasta if they have a big case the day after.”
Luke nodded. It made sense to him, some people stress baked. Other people stress-make pasta apparently. “Wait, so this pasta is all handmade?”
“Well, he doesn’t skimp on the steps when he’s stressed.”
A guy? Guess I have to investigate all the male lawyers in Stellis then.
“Guess that makes sense.”
“Right. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some matters to attend to. Feel free to stay here and chat with the officers.”
“Thank you, Captain.” No matter how tasty the pasta is, he has a job to do.
—
Artem is stressed.
He shouldn’t be, honestly. He had everything to win: a good case, ample evidence, and a compelling argument. So in theory, he shouldn’t be stressed.
That didn’t mean he wasn't stressed.
Howard Syter was the opposing counsel for the case and he hated the man with his guts. Well, he greatly disliked everyone in the Baldr Law Firm, but the inner circle that is Howard, Ingrid, William, and Harry had a special exception. Those were the people who stopped at nothing to get their client acquitted but would also dive into deeper darker territory. He was aware of the dealings Baldr did with their major cases and all, though those four held no punches back.
He just needed to anticipate their shady dealings in the courtroom. Or their flawed logic. God, he needed to do something other than reviewing the god damn case files again for the 10th time.
So on his way home, he bought a ton of flour, a ton of eggs, milk, two types of chicken broth, and two types of chicken meat. Guess the station was going to get another pasta night on his behalf.
—
“Pasta night started by accident”, one of the officers told Luke as they shoved another forkful of the vegan chicken alfredo. “One of the lawyers, I don’t know if you know them yet, made way too much spaghetti and didn’t want it to go to waste. He gave it to the captain and asked him to share. Then he heard that some of us had dietary restrictions and now the guy has the foresight to make three different variations of the same dish.”
“That seems like too much work though.” Luke said, looking at the pasta instead of the officer, “Surely he might want something in return?” Maybe he was projecting since the only reason he was chatting up with the officer was to learn the name of one of the inmates the NSB requested. But he liked this officer in particular anyway.
“That’s what we thought. But it turns out he’s just nervous. And making the pasta by hand gives him something to do after studying a case. Doesn’t mean we’re not nicer to him or make his stuff take more priority though. A 'thank you' to him if you will. ”
Luke hummed.
“Honestly, if we had our way we would have plastered his face in the building but… he’s shy. I don’t understand why though, he’s so well known.”
“Do you know who he is?” Luke asked, forgetting for a second his own mission and instead focused on the mysterious identity of who he dubbed ‘Pasta God’.
“How long have you been in the city?”
Luke tilted his head, “About a month, why?”
“Just wanted to see if you would know him. You should, by this point.”
Luke nodded, though his thoughts were elsewhere. Yeah, I know about five different attorneys that have major cases the day after they bring pasta. And you all call me after the pasta has been delivered so I don’t know who he is.
“I’ll have to catch him in the act then. Gotta give my offering to the pasta god after all.”
The police officer chuckled, “Praise be Pasta God.”
—
Artem was stressed. And this time he didn’t have a case to handle! So maybe he was not that stressed. Or maybe he was sympathy-stressed? Oh, who is he kidding, he was stressed because Rosa overworked themselves to the point of fainting, only to start working right after.
So maybe he was stressed on Rosa’s behalf. And it wasn’t that he didn’t believe in their abilities, heavens no. He just… got worried on her behalf. They don’t have to carry the shoulder of Themis Law Firm, they don’t have the 99.0% winning rate. They’re allowed to make mistakes, unlike him.
But his body still feels as if he’s the one going up to the stand and carrying the case.
And that meant that he wouldn’t be able to rest tonight, though he’s not as pent up to make the whole police department some ravioli.
Pling!
He picked up his phone from the counter and blinked at the notification.
Raven has commented on...
Artem grinned. If he couldn’t make pasta for a whole police force, maybe he can make pasta for the organization he’s a part of.
—
“Celebratory pasta?” Marius asked, unfolding the tinfoil from the glass container.
Artem coughed, “Yes, it has come to my attention that some of us don’t tend to eat when they need to. This ensures all of you have at least one decent meal.”
“Well, I’m not one to pass off free food. Move over, Marius.” Luke said, reaching for the forks. “What pasta is it?”
“Homemade ravioli stuffed with spinach and ricotta cheese, tomato, and basil sauce.”
Vyn nodded while Marius whistled, “Fancy. This better give my chef’s food a run for its money.”
“You could just say you’re excited to taste it and get it over with, Marius.” Vyn sighed, shaking his head at his student.
Luke drowned out the rest of the argument in favor of taking a bite of the food on his plate. “God?” He asked, looking at Artem with an awestruck look.
At this, Artem sputtered and his ears turn red. Marius looked at Luke and rushes to get a plate of pasta for himself.
“I-I’m sorry, what?”
“Y-You’re Pasta God.”
Vyn takes a bite and chews thoughtfully. All of his decorum flies through the window as he shovels another spoonful of pasta into his mouth.
“I don’t think I’m an entity made of pasta...” Artem said, his face tinged in a red hue.
At this, Luke chuckled, “No, that’s not what I meant. I mean, kind of, but what I meant was that you’re the guy who makes monstrous amounts of pasta when stressed and gives it to the Downtown Stellis Police Department.”
“Oh. Yes, I do that.”
Marius was about to take a bite of his second plate of pasta when he stopped to make a comment, “Yeah, I guess this is his version of stress baking, huh?”
Luke laughed, “That’s what I thought!”
And so, the NXX ate pasta, with two mysteries solved that day. Well, one mystery for the NXX. Two for Luke.