Log:Mindjacked, Scene 4

Mindjacking 2019/09/03 Carpenter Tamara Garcia 4

It's been a little longer than expected before they could arrange a mutual time to meet. Schedules. One of them always seems to be busy. But at last, a time is agreed upon after work at a place not far from city hall or the CBPD. Tamara arrives a little behind, still carrying her work briefcase, but she's at least taken her hair down and switched from high heels to more comfortable flats.

Carpenter waves to Tamara to get her attention as she walks into the place. He has already secured a booth over on the side wall.

Tamara's eyes catch the wave. She heads over, taking a seat across from him as she fans herself. "That summer heat is starting to climb," she comments.

Carpenter smiles. "Yeah, a little bit. We should enjoy it while it lasts, though. Fall's around the corner." He chuckles. "Still a beer drinker? Or would you like something more complicated?"

"I personally can't wait for Fall," Tamara smiles. She thinks about her drinking offices. "I feel like I need an uncomplicated drink tonight. They have any amber ale?"

Carpenter nods. "I think so. I'll be right back." He heads over to the bar, and returns a minute or so later with a pitcher of amber ale, and a couple of glasses.

Tamara smiles as Carpenter comes back with the prize. "How's your case going? The one I got you a deal for," she asks as she pours herself a glass. Mindjack has been receptive to the offer, given its his first offense. Now it's just a matter of finding out how much information he'll be giving.

Carpenter pours a couple of glasses. "So far, so good. He hasn't spilled the beans entirely, but I'm going to speak to him again tomorrow. We'll see how it goes."

"Good. I'm hoping he gives us enough to go after Daily," Tamara comments, sipping her drink before cringing. "Sorry. I guess I still have work on the brain. How've you been?"

Carpenter takes a deep breath. "Feeling better, since this crisis with Dr. Destroyer passed. It's pretty scary to think about the world ending and that there's little you can do about it. At least it worked out, as far as I heard."

Tamara taps her glass a little nervously. "I heard the same. I just...tried to focus on my work. It seemed a little futile, but it was all I could do from going crazy. Maybe I should have put in for vacation on some island somewhere. Or enjoy Tuscana before the end. Lord knows I have enough vacation time saved up."

Carpenter chuckles. "I've had people suggesting to me that I should take a vacation, too. Go to a beach somewhere and try to relax." He takes a sip of his drink.

"Maybe we all should." Tamara takes a big sip of her beer to get some extra fire in her belly. As she lowers her glass, she points a finger at him. "And you. Don't think I didn't recognize that haircut and that outfit of yours on the news when Dr. Destroyer made his threat. What were you thinking?"

Carpenter freezes and blinks. "Umm...what do you mean, exactly?"

"You were on the scene. That -was- you...wasn't it...?" Tamara asks, now not sounding so certain based on Carpenter's innocent act.

Carpenter laughs. "Who did you think I was, exactly?" He smiles and sips his drink. "One of the loose cannon superheroes?"

"One of the detectives in the background...?" Tamara responds. She must've assumed he reported on duty. At his suggestion that he could be one of the masked heroes, Tamara can't help but burst out laughing at the absurdity. "-You-? Putting on a cape and playing hero? That's a good one, Jack."

Carpenter smirks. "I would make a cape look good, thankyouverymuch!" He grins. "But no, I wasn't on duty at the time. I'm not sure if I'm thankful for that or not."

Tamara ends her laughter with an amused sigh. "I'm glad you weren't. They always seem to assign you the dangerous meta cases when you -are- on duty."

Carpenter nods. "They do. Something like that doesn't usually require a detective, though. That's something the beat cops or SWAT has to deal with. I just sometimes deal with the aftermath. Figuring how who killed whom or whatever."

"And sometimes you end up running into a meta suspect in your investigations," Tamara recalls. "At least in the reports I get, you have -some- cape backup."

Carpenter nods. "Often, yeah. There are a lot of metas in town that seem to like to help with investigations. Though some of them, like Daemon, tend to make my job harder, rather than easier."

"Of course they do. They're not trained professionals," Tamara smirks and drinks. "They're more like hobby investigators."

Carpenter nods, "Some are damn good at it, to be honest. It might be interesting if the CBPD actually created a meta department, like Starguard did. I'm not sure they'd get enough people to staff it, though."

Tamara nods thoughtfully. "I think the problem would be getting them to commit to a 9 to 5. Also being law officers with masks could be a political nightmare. But maybe."

Carpenter nods. "I think they might only be able to take those with public identities. Like a couple of the folks at SG. Someone with a mask would complicate matters legally, I suspect."

Tamara sips her beer, seeming amenable to the idea. "True. It'd also mean you'd get assigned to safer cases." That was always an odd sticking point with her. Just one of the reasons they probably broke things off.

Carpenter smiles. "That's right. I'd be on easy street then. Just regular stuff to deal with." He finishes his drink, and pours himself some more.

That makes Tamara smile. "To easy street, then," she toasts and drains more of her beer. That gives her time to think, and she sighs. "We started talking work again, didn't we?"

Carpenter chuckles. "We did." He smiles, "How have you been keeping busy, outside of work? Seeing anyone yet?"

Tamara sighs guiltily. "I've been taking cases home with me lately. Been on a few dates, but nothing that's stuck. I'm starting to really hate dating apps. You wouldn't believe the creeps out there." She finishes her beer and pours another one. "How about you? Taken up any hobbies? Or seeing someone...?"

Carpenter shakes his head, thinking about the potential vacation with Grimm, but he's not really sure what's up with that relationship - such as it is? "Not seeing anyone as of yet. I've been just...well, too busy. In my downtime, I've been reading some pulp stuff. Old noir stories and westerns. There's something nice about reading actual paper books, rather than an electronic one."

"Ahh, still into the classics I see. I'm half surprised you aren't planning to go visit Noir World," Tamara teases.

Carpenter grins. "Nope. I get enough excitement from my regular job. The idea of getting into a shootout with androids for 'fun' doesn't work for me. Even if they have nice gams." He gives her a wink.

Tamara smiles in amusement at Jack's refusal of Noir World, laughing at the gams comment. "Really? After our old couple's halloween costume, I'd have thought that place would be totally up your alley," she teases, referring to the Halloween party where she dressed up as one of those noir dames that always show up at a private eye's office to match with his costume.

Carpenter grins and gives her a wink, "Well, I like THAT part of the setting. You always struck me as the dangerous woman I should watch out for." He takes another sip. "But a lot of that kind of world is the violence and danger. And like I said, I get that with my job."

Tamara grins like she's up to no good when he says that. "Some of the criminals are starting to realize that, too. Must've been why you asked me out," she winks. "I suppose it does strike close to home. I always wondered if that's what got you into law enforcement to begin with. And why you stick with being a detective rather than take a desk job with a higher rank."

Carpenter thinks about it for a bit. "I've been wondering that myself. Especially after Hannah got promoted." The two were partners for at least part of the time while he had been dating Tamara. "I think it's two reasons, really. First...I don't kiss ass very well. But secondly, I think I just...do more good where I am. Moving upward means...more politics. It means having to deal with meetings and the press...and not helping people as directly."

Carpenter smiles. "I know you always thought it was a lack of ambition. But that's not it. It just feels...more...immediate."

Tamara shrugs her shoulders as he brings up the lack of ambition accusation. It was another one of those little reasons that she brought up that became part of the divide between them. After a sip from her beer, she smiles, but Jack can note some discomfort in it. "You were never one to play the politics game with your superiors. I suppose it makes sense now that you wouldn't want to be stuck in a position that required it on the daily."

Carpenter takes a deep breath, watching Tamara, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. And I certainly don't want to make it seem like I disapprove of your choices. You're moving up. As long as that's what you want...that's awesome. I hear the D.A. is a good guy to work for directly, too."

"No, you're right. I did flat out say that to you," Tamara accepts the comment. Those were her words, after all. But it's never fun to be reminded of past confrontations with someone who was close. "Maybe I just have too much ambition and wanted the same for you." She sips her beer. "I'm putting away criminals in my own way. You catch them. I make sure the charges stick and they go away for what they've done. And I'm working on a particular case that could be huge for me." She avoids commenton on if it's what she wants or not. "Chamberlain's a good D.A. The city's lucky to have him. Of course, I wouldn't mind having the job someday...but it would probably have to be in another city."

Carpenter grins. "We do make a good team, in our own way, don't we?" He nods and drinks a bit more. "Well, he might move on to something else. Run for Mayor or City Council. Then you'd have your shot."

"We do," Tamara raises her glass and drains it before setting the glass down on the table. She dabs at the corner of her mouth with a napkin to remove some beer foam. "Hah. Well I'll keep my eyes open. But I have to get a few more big cases under my belt first."

Carpenter pours some more for himself, "There's only a little bit left. Want to finish it? I promise to walk you home, if you need it." He smiles.

Tamara laughs at the offer. "Alright," she agrees as she pours the last in her glass. She's getting close to her limit, but she's off the clock. She thinks a moment on his team comment before taking a long sip.

Carpenter smiles and sips his drink. "I can see the wheels turning. What are you thinking about?"

Tamara suddenly realizes she must be making that face. "Just...that only now we really make a good team. When we were together, I let our relationship sway my judgement at work. Offering deals to help you out when they weren't always the best call. I think we work better now than before, definitely." The beer is definitely helping her to admit it.

Carpenter nods slowly. "You're right." He adds with a quirked smile, "Like most times." He pauses and thinks about it for a bit. "You know that if you ever need anything you can contact me, right? I figured you already knew that, but I want to make sure."

Tamara smiles slyly. "I'll be sure to keep you on speed dial in case I need anything. How're you at changing headlights on cars?" she teases.

Carpenter chuckles. "Depends on the car. I've done it before."

"Oh, good. I don't need it at the moment. Just making sure I know who to go to," Tamara chuckles and finishes her beer. "Well, it's been fun catching up with you, Jack. Been a while since I've seen you outside of the office. We should do it again sometime."

Carpenter nods. "We should. Absolutely." He goes to get up. "Would you like me to walk you home? How are you feeling?"

Tamara grabs her suitcase. "I'm fine," she says, until she gets up and feels the true affects of the alcohol. It's much different when you're on your feet and trying to be mobile. "Maybe...I should accept that offer, though."

Carpenter smiles and offers an arm to lean on. "Still live not too far from here?"

Tamara takes his arm, leaning involuntarily from time to time as she tries to keep upright on her own. "I'm still at the same place." The one bedroom condo in Lowtown.

Carpenter smiles and walks Tamara home toward her home. He's pretty much fine. A little buzzed, but not so tipsy as to have difficult walking. Before long, they're in front of her home.

Tamara is a little more than buzzed, but not sloppily so. She's just leaning a little more than usual. About halfway through the walk, she's sobering up already and walking on her own. When they reach her place, she slides her arms out from his and turns to face him. "Thank you for the escort, Jack. You take care of yourself," she says, leaning in to offer a hug goodbye.

Carpenter gives her a hug, "You too." He smiles, "Happy to help." He lets out a long breath of comfort while in her arms, and slowly pulls away.

Tamara smiles at him one last time for the evening before unlocking her door and stepping inside. "Goodnight, Jack," she says warmly before closing the door.

Carpenter takes a deep breath, and heads home.