xp_logs | Bishop, Riley, Meemaw, and Warren: Why Haven't You Called?

A woman comes into X-Factor looking for her grandson. The case is surprisingly easy.

Bishop stood in the back of the X-Factor offices, on top of a desk, a sheet of paper rolled into a spy glass so he could isolate certain aspects of the cork board in front of him. A cigar smoldered in an ash tray on the desk, a glass of Makers melted the last remnants of three cubes of ice, and a cup of coffee let off the last wisps of steam as all sat neglected; each had been unsuccessful in relaxing, stimulating, or altering the detective's thought process into a state that would allow him the insight he was looking for.

The peace of the offices was abruptly to be shattered, as a small elderly woman marched through the front door and straight up to Warren at the reception desk.
"Young man. Where is my grandson?"

Warren automatically straightened when the woman burst in, having been slouched in the desk chair reading a file. The woman's face wasn't familiar, so it wasn't a client he'd spoken to recently, and he wasn't sure they had a missing grandson on the books.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," he said, automatically rising to his feet. "I'm afraid I'm not familiar with your case. Your grandson is missing? What was his name?"

Riley looked over at the older woman standing near Warren. That was certainly one way to make an entrance, and the woman appeared to assume they, or perhaps just Warren, knew who her grandson was.

"Lucas Bishop", the woman told Warren firmly. "Is he here? I want to see him."

"Bishop's your grandson?" Warren just stared at her. How was that. What? Warren didn't even know Bishop HAD family in New York.

Riley moved closer to the other two and smiled at the woman. "Is he expecting you? I can go see if he's available." She hadn't pried into the personal lives of her coworkers and couldn't be sure whether or not Bishop would want to see his grandmother.

"He is not expecting me, young lady, but I'd take it as a kindness if you'd go fetch him. He owes me an explanation." She sat down in the nearest chair, clearly not intending to move.

The younger woman nodded, still smiling. "If he's around, I'll let him know you're here." She walked off to the back, where she'd last seen the "missing grandson."

Oblivious to what was occurring up front, Bishop had taken to pacing back and forth past the cork board, looking at it only fleetingly out of the corner of his eye. He stopped as he walked past and toward Riley, noticing her. Everyone seemed to avoid the back when he was trying to think, making him curious. "Something going on?"

"Sorry to disturb you, but a woman just showed up looking for her grandson," she explained. "It should be an easy case to solve since she says her grandson is you."

"I haven't seen me in a while but the least I could do is go out to see." Bishop replied dryly as he made his way out into the office, grinning when he saw the old woman. "Meemaw, I didn't think you wanted to come see the office."

"I wouldn't have, Lucas", she said tartly, standing up to give him a kiss on the cheek anyway, "if you'd called me Sunday gone."

The woman nearly disappeared as Bishop wrapped her up in his arms for a hug. "My partner is missing." He admitted to her. "It has been distracting. I'm sorry Meemaw."

"I think I'm going to get some coffee," Warren announced after recovering from his shock. Pushing himself out of his chair, he shot a meaningful glance at Riley - they should let Bishop and his grandmother catch up in peace.

Riley nodded at Warren, taking the hint. "Coffee sounds great. I think I'll get some, too."

"You don't have to leave." Bishop offered to the pair before beginning introductions. "Meemaw, this is Riley and Warren. They're a couple of my coworkers."

"It's very nice to meet you both", she said with a gracious smile. "And you certainly don't have to leave on my account."

"It's alright," Warren said, trying not to smirk too much. "You should probably yell at him some more, and it would be terribly demoralising if you did that in front of his employees." He winked at her. "We'll bring back some coffee and pastries for you two as well."

"That would be very kind of you." The smile turned distinctly warmer, just for Warren. Apparently old ladies liked him too.

"Thank you." Bishop nodded and touched Meemaw's back to guide her back to the desks.