Whit walked into the local Safeway, immediately zeroing in on a tall figure lurking near the bread.
"Excuse me." He called.
The person tensed up, and their hand paused over the bread loaf.
Whit hurried over before the person could escape.
"My name's Dr. Whitney Turnjudge, pronouns he/him. You were at the crime scene this morning. I'd like to ask you some questions down at the station."
"Why?" The voice was low, gravelly, and hoarse.
"Would you mind telling my your name and pronouns?" Whit asked.
"Vera Ivanova... she/her."
Whit nodded. "Well Vera, would you please come down to the station please?"
Vera's shoulders stiffened. "Why?"
She turned around, glaring down her nose at Whit through almost black eyes. Her skin was pale and marred with pockmarks and a scar next to her right eye, almost obscured by her choppy black hair and hood. There were dark circles under her eyes.
"Vera, I'm not going to hurt you. I just need to know what you saw on the shore."
Vera's eyes narrowed. "Dr. Turnjudge. I have respect, but I do not wish to go to a secondary location with you." Her voice accented abruptly on the 'you' catching Whit off guard.
"You aren't American?" He asked.
Vera huffed through her nose. "If you do not have a crime for me, then please go."
Whit backed off, and watched as Vera grabbed her bread, paid for it at the self-checkout with a well-worn  five dollar bill, and was visibly confused when she saw the amount on the screen. After squinting at it angrily, she left the bread on the checkout and stalked out of the store. Whit quickly paid the difference, and ran after Vera.

"Ms. Ivanova, wait! You forgot the bread!"

Vera stopped suddenly and turned her head enough to see where Whit was. 

"I did not have the money for the bread." Her voice lowered. Whit handed her the loaf, noting  lacerations on her hands and dried blood under her fingernails. He tried to stay calm, but couldn't stop his tremor from flaring up. "I paid the difference for you." he said gently. "You must be hungry. Would you mind if I treated you to lunch?"

Vera blinked, "Lunch?"

Whit nodded and walked out of the store, noting that Vera quickly caught up with him, walking just behind him with soft, almost catlike footsteps.