Tentacle University pt. 5

Detective Cruz had given the guys a ride back to their dorm, keeping the questions to a minimum as he drove.  Devon was grateful for that.  He didn’t feel much like talking at that moment.   Cruz had let him sit in the front seat.  Peter, his clothes thankfully free of vomit, had opted for the back. 

He had known Lori.  He had even liked her.  She was a bit of a wild child, but that was part of her charm.  How she had ended up with the straight laced, preacher’s kid Tim no one knew, but when he had seen them together it somehow made sense.  They completed each other.  Lori livened Tim up, and Tim helped keep Lori out of trouble.  They were almost the perfect couple, and now they were…

“Would you mind if I came up to the room?” Cruz didn’t take his eyes off the road as he spoke.  “I don’t want to go into detail, but I believe we will need some DNA to identify the other… person.” 

After the shit storm back at the crime scene it seemed like Cruz was playing it a little more careful.  The detective had gotten some ugly stairs after he had shown them the picture of Lori’s head, and it was obvious from the way some of the other officers were watching him that he was probably going to get chewed out when he got back to the precinct. 

“Yeah, of course,” Devon said.  “Just no more pictures, okay?”

“Of course.” 

Peter sat up.  “Can you let me off here?  My friend’s dorm is right there, and I… I kind of need to clear my head.” 

Cruz just nodded, pulling the car to a stop.  Peter was trying to open the backdoor, apparently forgetting that he was in a cop car.  Cruz got out, walking quickly to the curbside door, and opened it.  Peter shot out like a lightening bolt, not even saying goodbye. 

When Cruz got back in the car and they started back towards the dorm they road in silence.  It wasn’t until they were up in the living room that the three guys had shared when Cruz spoke again. 

“Which room is his?”  Cruz glanced around observing the clutter. 

Devon motion towards the room door the far right hall.  “Last door on your right.  The one on the left is the bathroom.” 

“Do you know what toiletries were his, if he had a brush?” asked Cruz.

Devon nodded, leading the detective towards the bathroom.  He pointed towards the sink.  “The green toothbrush is his, and that comb.” 

Without a word Cruz produced two small paper bags from the pocket of his suite coat, as well as a pair of latex gloves.  After bagging and labeling the two objects he turned towards the door of Tim’s room.  Devon didn’t need instruction.  He turned, opened the door, and stepped aside as Cruz entered.

Cruz headed straight for the dresser, a cheap faux wood construction which had one of it’s corners broken off.  It wasn’t the dresser that interested the detective though.  It was the pictures, taped to the large mirror overhead. 

“I never get to see them like this.” He tapped one of the pictures.  “I never get to see them smiling and happy.”  He shook his head, plucking one of the pictures off of the mirror and holding it.  “Do you mind if I take this? It’ll help with the ID.”

“Of course,” said Devon. 

Cruz glanced down at the picture in his latex clad fingers.  “I’m sorry about before, when I showed you that picture from the crime scene.  I shouldn’t have done that.  No one should have to see that.” 

“You see it.” Devon leaned against the doorframe. “Probably see plenty of stuff like that every day.  I… I know why you showed us the picture.  Maybe it wasn’t the smartest move, but I know why you did it.” 

Cruz looked up from the picture, and he smiled.  It was faint, almost sad looking, but it was just enough to show the smile lines that creased his face.  They were subtle, but noticeable.  At that moment Devon had to admit, Detective Marco Cruz looked very handsome. 

Cruz bagged and labeled the photo, then slipped it into the inside pocket of his jacket.  “I think I have everything I need here.” 

“Do you want me to walk you out?” Suddenly Devon really didn’t want to be alone.  He wasn’t sure if he actually enjoyed the detective’s company or not, but he was very sure that he could use the distraction. 

“It’s alright.”  Cruz headed out of Tim’s room, and back towards the shared living room.  “This is an interesting set up.  When I was in college I had a room that I shared with two other guys.  No privacy.” 

“They have rooms like that.” Devon followed him.  “I lucked out, got one of the apartment set ups.  Living room and kitchen are shared, but everyone gets their own bedrooms. Part of the school’s renovations.” 

“Seems like a nice college.” Cruz was almost to the door now.  He stopped, reaching into his pants pocket, and pulled out a card. Using the pen he had labeled the evidence bags with, he scribbled something on the back.

“Listen, Devon, if you can think of anything else, give me a call,” he said. 

Devon nodded, taking the card.  During the transaction their fingers brushed for a brief moment, and that little bit of contact seemed to bring the smile back to Cruz’s face. 

“My cell is on the back.  Use that one if you just need to talk,” said Cruz.  Then he was out the door. 

Devon stood there, a little dumbstruck.  He looked down at the card.  He couldn’t be sure, but it sounded like Cruz just tried to hit on him.  As wildly inappropriate as it was, and horribly timed to boot, Devon couldn’t help but take a little joy in seeing the number, scribbled in pen, on the back of the card. 

Devon glanced back towards the open door leading into Tim’s room, and whatever joy getting the detective’s number had given him quickly faded.  Through the door he could see the picture covered mirror.  Slowly he walked towards the door, glancing inside once, looking at those scattered memories that had interested Cruz so much. 

He was in a few of those pictures.  Peter was, too.  All of them were smiling, happy. Now that’s all there was of Lori and Tim.  They were memories taped to a mirror in a tiny little dorm room. 

Devon closed the door to Tim’s room, and headed towards his own.  It wasn’t until his own door was shut, and he was hidden away from everyone else when he let the tears finally come.