Togusa’s expression loses the slight amused curiosity when Dante says the girl’s name. “Tateyama?” he clarifies, but falls silent again to listen. He gives a small, very slow and deliberate nod when Dante mentions the network post. There is a tension to his gaze and the grip of his left hand. It was impossible to not know what that post was really about.
Togusa slides the glass of water a little closer to Dante to make sure that it’s within his reach when he’s done. He takes out a very long calming breath through his nose before he can get his speech back to himself.
“Thank you.” Pause. “Because I doubt she’s going to.” He glances at Dante sideways. “He under eighteen?” That makes things more difficult. His voice gets a little distant and analytical. “Was banking on it being somebody from school. You don’t talk about it publicly if it’s somebody closer than that, close friend or family. If it’s another kid? Can’t step in unless it gets reported in school decides that they want to treat it as a criminal assault and all that ridiculous red tape.”
Togusa moves back to the couch and sits back down with a deep sigh. “Crappy part about being a cop. When you know somebody’s doing something but you can’t get the victim to speak up about it. Not officially allowed to do anything, and that’s the exact point that even good cops stop walking the line.” Another tight frown. “But there are things I just can’t abide anyway.”
“I wouldn’t have helped matters.” Togusa looks at Dante straight on. “Do you think you actually did?” He holds up a hand. “This is not a lecture question, this is a ‘how did the guy react’ question.”
no subject
Togusa slides the glass of water a little closer to Dante to make sure that it’s within his reach when he’s done. He takes out a very long calming breath through his nose before he can get his speech back to himself.
“Thank you.” Pause. “Because I doubt she’s going to.” He glances at Dante sideways. “He under eighteen?” That makes things more difficult. His voice gets a little distant and analytical. “Was banking on it being somebody from school. You don’t talk about it publicly if it’s somebody closer than that, close friend or family. If it’s another kid? Can’t step in unless it gets reported in school decides that they want to treat it as a criminal assault and all that ridiculous red tape.”
Togusa moves back to the couch and sits back down with a deep sigh. “Crappy part about being a cop. When you know somebody’s doing something but you can’t get the victim to speak up about it. Not officially allowed to do anything, and that’s the exact point that even good cops stop walking the line.” Another tight frown. “But there are things I just can’t abide anyway.”
“I wouldn’t have helped matters.” Togusa looks at Dante straight on. “Do you think you actually did?” He holds up a hand. “This is not a lecture question, this is a ‘how did the guy react’ question.”