Conchobar had left the office early. There were no more cases until Friday, so he hit the streets earlier than usual. If he wasn't up for morning coffee or late dinner (lunch was a rarity depending on who asked) he wasn't out during the day. He walked right into the store without looking. Bumping into people in this city was a casual way of saying hello without words. He perfered that because these days he wasn't up for being nice. Not since hearing of Deirdre's wedding and how he'd been formally uninvited. On top of it he hated her for pulling the rug out from under his feet a second time. Once was a slap. Twice was asking for revenge.
His head had been pounding for days. That drone of Christmas music wasn't very uplifting. He couldn't seem to ditch the pain, it was that ball rattling around in his head. Maybe one day the stress would make his brain pop again.
He made his way back to the front of the store after picking out some pain medication just as the woman reached the counter. "Excuse me, don't mind if I cut in line do you?" He shook the pill container and pointed down at her basket. "It's just one item." He flashed her a nice smile but behind it he was daring her to protest.