As Darlene got closer, Halle’s gaze shifted to the object in her hand. Her breath caught. That compass—it was identical to hers.
Instinctively, Halle touched the one hanging around her neck, but it was still there.
As realization dawned on her, a bitter laugh escaped her lips, her thoughts heavy with self-mockery. 'So it wasn’t one of a kind,' she figured.
Darlene reached her, ruffled her hair, and sat down beside her like she was comforting a child.
“Don’t cry anymore,” Darlene said softly. “Terence’s temper hasn’t changed in ten years.”
Her voice was calm, almost nostalgic. “But it’s that sharp, relentless nature of his that’s gotten him to where he is today.”
Halle blinked in surprise. 'Ten years?'
She hadn’t known they’d known each other for that long. She thought Darlene had only rejoined the team last year, brought in as a newly appointed officer. She hadn’t realized she was an old friend of Terence’s.
The silence between them lingered as Halle’s thoughts raced. Her eyes wandered to Darlene, who was staring at the compass in her hand, lost in thought.