Once Lorleii’s grip had loosened the inspector cleared his throat, straightened his uniform and made a hasty retreat, mumbling under his breath as he went…
“bloody women…I’m not paid enough for this malarkey! God damn …”
Karen stood motionless, having not registered Lorleii’s last comment, instead she watched the inspector until he had left the room and was out of ear shot. She turned to Lorleii, her mouth slightly ajar and shock her head with small but clear movements. Karen was shocked by the abrupt aggression her new friend had just demonstrated, maybe she had misjudged Lorleii’s nature or underestimated the stress she was under, either was Karen was not going to let what just happened slip unchallenged. Lorleii began to gesture with her hands in a “let’s get moving fashion” and was about to speak, but Karen stood defiantly still.
“What the hell was that Lor!? “ she firmly asked before Lorleii could speak
“He is an Inspector for OSC!… my employer I might add, what if this gets back to Pines, I’ll be taken off the case in a jiffy and I doubt he would be very cooperative after that!”
As she spoke she pointed her finger towards the door where the inspector had left, at herself and then at Lorleii. After letting the finger linger a while she slowly let her hand come back down to her side as she took a deep breath in and waited for Lorleii’s response.
Karen was not used to confrontation and felt a sudden pang of regret at her own outburst but could not help also feeling slightly excited about her new found confidence.