May 20, 1999

May: Well well well... Agent Brandle.

I looked at May, who just finished interrogating Clair. May took a seat across from me, files in one hand, a drink in another.

May: So let me get this straight... you fancied-

Harlan: You heard the whole thing, no need to rub it in my face.

May chuckled. She took off the lid of her drink and drank.

Harlan: Oh, do you mind?

I grabbed the cup and saw what was in it: coffee.

Harlan: What is it? Mocha? Caramel?

May: I wouldn't if-

I took a sip. The coffee was so bitter I immediately spat it out. May rolled her eyes.

May: And there goes my drink.

I fixed myself and turned to May.

Harlan: Who is she?

May: Who? Who you-

Harlan: Your case. The woman.

May went from an annoyed face to... that face you make when your parents ask you about your crush.

May: Oh her. Her.

Harlan: Yes, her. Did she say anything?

May: No. She just kept asking about you. Did you tell her I was your girl-

Harlan: NO!

May: Do you wish I was though?

Harlan: No.

May raised her eyebrow.

Harlan: Well before...

May's face didn't change.

Harlan: THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO OKAY?

May (laughing): Why did you never tell me?

Harlan: What do you mean?

May: I mean like... almost four years and you never told me. Why?

Harlan: Weren't you then all for... What was his name? The guy you fancied in second year.

May: Second year?

Harlan: Second year in the academy... Owen was it?

May: BULLSHIT! I just thought Owen was cute-

Harlan: No wait... wasn't second year Oscar?

May: Oscar? Who's Oscar?

Harlan: Curly hair-

May: YEAH OSCAR! NOW I REMEMBER! Still, why didn't you ask?

I kept my mouth shut. May looked at me then laughed.

May: Noooo... It wasn't because of them!

Harlan: Shut up.

May (laughing): PUSSY!

Harlan: Agents dropped the case. What is so important about her?

May stopped laughing. She decided to answer me seriously.

May: I don't know. All I know was that she was captured early-May. Two agents actually dropped the case. Well the first one went missing, the second one dropped it.

Harlan: Why did the second one drop it?

May: Pretty sure this is classi-

Harlan: Why?

May looked around. I could see in her mind that she knew she wasn't supposed to tell me, but she also knew that in a friendship like ours, there were no secrets between us.

May: She is part of a crime syndicate here in London. They've been causing disturbances here for a really long time, and not just in London. They're T.H.E.P.A.'s most wanted or something. My father told me that T.H.E.P.A. was after them for a really long time but we got nothing on them.

Harlan: Until her.

May: She was the first thing we got on them. The first thing that confirmed the organization's existence.

Harlan: So why did the agent drop the case?

May looked at me.

Harlan: Because she never said a word.

May: They thought she was a dead-end. Ever since they caught her... Not one word. Well, until you.

I looked at May.

Harlan: Well... Also you.

May: That is kinda true.

Harlan: Anything else you can tell me?

May looked at me, and I understood. She wasn't supposed to tell me any of it anyways.

Harlan: Got it.

I checked my watch.

Harlan: Damn it, I gotta go. Forster is probably talking to the Director now.

May: Yeah I'll see you later.

Harlan: Great. Catch y-

May: Harlan?

I looked at her and understood. She wanted me on the case. With her.

Harlan: I'll send him your regards.

May: One more thing.

I looked at her. She then nodded at me to come over. I walked over to hear and leaned in.

May (whisper): Her name's Clair. Clair Delvey.

I leaned back, nodded to thank her, and she nodded back. I then fixed my coat and walked my way to the Director's office.