(4 days before the switch)
Location: Downtown San Francisco, California, on Earth
The crisp morning air bit at Vivian's cheeks as she stepped out of Ben's apartment building, the city still largely asleep around her. She'd managed to slip out without disturbing Ben, though Marmalade had given her a sleepy, questioning glance from his spot on the guest bed.
Her run was a comforting counterpoint to the swirling thoughts in her mind about the escalating arson investigation and Alex Greyson's unsettling intensity. She pushed herself, focusing on the burn in her lungs, trying to outpace the lingering unease from yesterday's encounter.
The familiar route offered little distraction, however, as her thoughts circled back to Alex's persistent curiosity and his surprising presence in Ben's neighborhood, even in the very same building as Ben. And as Vivian rounded a familiar corner onto a tree-lined street, a figure already moving with ease came into view.
Alex, in his sleek running gear, was indeed waiting. He fell into step beside her, his presence a quiet, undeniable force, as if their shared morning run was a pre-arranged appointment he fully expected her to keep.
"Morning, Vivian," Alex greeted, his voice calm and deep. "I'm glad you took me up on my request to run together in the mornings."
Vivian managed a slightly breathless "Morning, Alex," her mind already racing. His presence here again felt less like a coincidence and more like a deliberate maneuver. "We didn't really set a time, so I'm surprised you were waiting."
"Indulge me," he countered smoothly. "I wanted to make sure you didn't have another dizzy spell when running alone. Thomas will also be joining us in the mornings, though he'll maintain some distance."
Alex waved behind him at Thomas, who did his best to stay equidistant while running at a pace that matched theirs. "Jae is running up ahead. I'll introduce you to her later."
Vivian kept her eyes forward as she asked, "You invited friends to run with you?"
"Not friends," Alex replied with a small chuckle. "Part of my security team. Thomas is more than my driver. And I invited Jae because I thought you might feel more comfortable if there was another woman besides yourself."
"Are you receiving threats? Or is this your normal morning routine?"
"It's my understanding that the fires are the threats, yes? And as the person investigating them, I was concerned you might also be at risk."
Vivian looked over at him briefly to ascertain if he was being sincere. What she saw looked like genuine concern to her. "I can't stop you from having your own security detail. As a matter of fact, it's probably a good idea. But there's no need to include me. If I feel threatened to the point that I can't handle it myself, I can always ask for police protection. Plus, the cost of such a service…"
"Then let's agree that this is just for me, who happens to also live in the neighborhood and also happens to run in the mornings. And that I just happen to see you running in the mornings is an added bonus."
"That is certainly your prerogative, Alex."
"Speaking of which, I've been thinking about our conversation yesterday. About the investigation."
"Oh?" Vivian prompted, trying to keep her tone neutral.
"You were probably notified that I requested those additional GIG sites you designated to be added to the current investigation," Alex stated, his gaze fixed straight ahead. "It was a strategic decision, really. The more properties we can tie into this pattern, especially the unreported ones, the more resources the city will be compelled to allocate. It frames it as a broader, more serialized issue, rather than isolated incidents."
Vivian had suspected as much. "I can see where that makes sense to you. More properties, more personnel, more funding. It certainly broadens the scope."
"Precisely," Alex affirmed. "And you'll have full use of our contracted investigation team, as well."
"I appreciate how proactive you are. However, my concern is if too many people are trampling all over the scenes without an idea of what I'm looking for, it could also hinder the investigation." Vivian paused, not wanting to alienate him from cooperating with the investigation. "Let me think about where additional resources might be useful."
"I can be very useful, Vivian. I've even located another property, an old manufacturing plant, where a small, unreported fire took place about two years ago. It fits your 'testing phase' profile perfectly, and it's never been touched by official investigators.
Vivian's eyes lit up. "Another unreported site? That would be valuable."
Alex grinned, knowing that she would jump at the offer. "But, I'd like to visit it with you. For personal reasons."
"Alex…"
Alex chuckled. "Not those types of personal reasons, though it pleases me that your mind went there. No… it's one I personally own and have sentimental attachment to."
Vivian should have been embarrassed at her assumption, but she had already started thinking about things she should look for at the new scene. "I see. Then, of course. When can we go?"
"As soon as you're free," Alex replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I'll arrange access. We can make it our next 'outing'."
Is he offering up access to the textile mill because he knows I'd probably find it, anyway?
They continued their run, discussing the logistics of the new site visit until they reached the entrance of the apartment building where both Ben and Alex lived. They walked into the lobby together and Alex greeted some carpenters who were working on constructing something. Vivian could have asked, but her mind was still on researching the new site before she visited. They even rode up in the elevator again, Alex watching her with a faint, knowing smile as she bit on her lip, deep in thought. When the elevator opened to Ben's floor, she thanked Alex and stepped out.
"No need. I should thank you for sating my curiosity, Vivian. I can't wait to see what you glean from this new site." He arranged his face into his signature charming smile until the elevator doors slid shut.
Vivian continued down the familiar hallway to Ben's apartment, lost in thought. When she arrived at the door, Ben opened it as if he had been waiting impatiently.
"Did you really go running with him?"
Vivian sighed. "I went running as I always do. He just happened to be waiting."
"Dammit, Vivian. He's just going to keep finding ways to insert himself into your life. You have to see that." He used her full first name, which meant he was pretty mad.
"It's not lost on me, Ben. I do understand." Vivian unzipped her running jacket in preparation for a shower. "I even understand why you're worried." She removed her shoes. "But I do need him for this investigation. So, please, bear with me?" She gave him the look that started their friendship all those years ago.
Ben looked into her eyes, crossed his arms and then hung his head, looking at the floor. "That's not fair, Viv. You know I have no immunity when you ask like that."
Vivian nodded. "That's why I do it." Vivian smiled at him warmly. "But you have your thing, too. You know. When you rub the back of your neck to signal you are frustrated and worried. And then you look up with puppy eyes."
"It is my signature move," Ben teased, and they both laughed about it.
"Look. I'll be on rotation soon. Just a few more days. Okay?" Vivian said to reassure him.
"Don't be surprised if that bastard doesn't find a way to buy the fire station," Ben said in dripping sardonics. "If he does, we're both moving to another country. Immediately."
"Okay. Okay. It's a deal," Vivian snickered. "Now. I really need a shower."
After her shower, Vivian returned to the living room, only to find a note on the kitchen island. Ben had already left for work. His neat handwriting assured her he'd left coffee for her and to contact him if she needed anything. Marmalade, ever the loyal companion, rubbed against her legs, purring loudly, a fluffy orange comfort in the suddenly lonely apartment.
With a fresh coffee in her Cat Lover mug, she settled at the kitchen table, her tablet open (Marmalade sat on her lap to supervise). Alex's mention of the unreported fire at a personally owned former manufacturing plant sparked her investigative curiosity. She immediately set to work, pulling up city maps, cross-referencing old property records and news archives, searching for any mention of incidents that might have gone under the radar at the upcoming location or places Alex personally owned. And now, the place Alex was taking her to visit was the former Greyson Textile Factory.
"I see. I guess that is why he called it a sentimental location, Marmalade. I think it was his family's factory some time ago. Oh! A rich legacy heir and an abandoned factory is the secret base? Marmalade… I've solved it. He's Batman!"
Marmalade jumped down and decided to sleep on the couch as if he was done with her nonsense.
"It could happen," she called out to Marmalade. "You have to keep an open mind to be a flexible, unconventional investigator. To see what others don't." Then softly she added, "Right, Dad?"
Later that afternoon, with her preliminary research on the new site complete, Vivian scheduled a meeting with the other members of the joint investigation team: Detective Garcia, a seasoned police detective known for his meticulous approach, and Public Prosecutor Davies, who was always sharp and focused on building an airtight case. Vivian wanted to present her findings on her testing phase theory and the newly identified unreported sites to let them know why she would be doing more site visits at previously unreported locations.
Before the meeting, Vivian pulled up her digital map of all GIG properties, with the overlapping layers of the reported fires, new locations Alex had provided, and GIG-owned properties that had been vacant for at least 2 years.
She went over everything she was going to show them except for one thing: she had another site visit to dive into before the meeting.
As she headed to the garage to drive to GIG headquarters, Alex met her outside of the garage elevator, Thomas standing by with a black SUV. Jae, whom Vivian met on the morning run, was in the front passenger seat.
Alex held the door open for Vivian again. "I'd prefer to go around, if you don't mind," Vivian said as she walked behind the vehicle and hopped in behind the driver's seat.
"It seems we've become more estranged since this morning," Alex commented, trying to sound disappointed.
"I don't mean to offend, Alex. It's just that I work in a male-dominated profession and have to constantly prove myself. So chivalry, however well-intended, makes me a little uncomfortable," Vivian explained.
"I see. Well, I can't promise I won't keep trying. It's still okay to treat you like a lady outside of work, right?" Alex settled on a sultry tone to deliver his query and slid next to Vivian on the back seat. Thomas climbed into the driver's seat and they were on their way.
Ignoring his inquiry, Vivian said, "Alex, I've compiled a map of all GIG properties and the fire incidents. Should I include all of your personal holdings as part of the investigation? Or just this site? There were a few minor incidents flagged in my initial research, though they weren't officially reported."
"No need to trouble yourself with my personal holdings. I'll have my own team look into any past incidents on those properties and will share the findings with you directly. It will streamline the process."
Vivian bit her lip as she thought about what he said. Streamline the process? Or keep his personal affairs separate from a formal investigation?
While his offer to have his own team investigate seemed helpful on the surface, a small part of her wondered why Alex would keep his own properties from her when he was taking her to his old family factory to investigate without hesitation. And he was especially open about GIG's holdings. She filed the thought away as a new piece of the puzzle to consider.
But Alex had a much simpler reason why he didn't want her checking into his personal real estate holdings. Mainly, he owned the building Ben's law firm was in; the building where Ben lived; and was in the process of buying the building where Vivian lived. They were all good investments, especially Vivian's, which was an up-and-coming neighborhood. And they were all through an LLC that would easily point back to Alex.
So he wasn't trying to hide it from the public—he was trying not to scare Vivian off of the case.