3 letter word for embrace

“What’s big enough to kill a giant?”

“Was that a pun, Hel?”

“Heh, shh, they’ll hear you.”

Helen Marks and Davis Lee approached the crime scene. A large corpse laid over a collapsed two story home. Its leg bargained the main road. A pleasant traffic jam was being redirected into side streets by several police officers.

“Damage report?”

Davis pulled out his techpad and a small digital hologram projected out. “Alright, chief. At 5:45am, the owner came home from a night of ‘leisure.’ At 5:46am he was unlocking his front door when the giant fell onto his condo, destroying it and-“

“It crushed my car!!” shrieked a disheveled man in party-stained business attire. “What are you going to do about my car!?”

“Sir, your car is private property, the public is not required to reimburse you for lost property,” replied a policewoman in the calmest voice she could muster.

“But that thing- that giant is under some government jurisdiction, isn’t it?! It was doing whatever job the big guys want it to do!”

“Sir, I’m going to ask you to remain calm.”

“This is bullshit! That giant doesn’t have the common sense to look where it’s falling?!”

“He died, sir. He could not control where he fell.”

“Who the hell are you anyway? Are you even human?” The man yanked the officer’s hat off her head revealing her long, pointed ears tucked away inside. “An elf!? Fuck this! Why am I even talking to you!” He threw his intoxicated body toward her, thrashing about like a spoil child. The policewoman coolly stepped to the side and let him fall. “ARGH HELL!”

Helen placed her hand on the policewoman’s shoulder. “We’ll take it from here, officer.”

“Please do.” She turned and left.

Davis tried to help the man up. “Sir, I’m officer Davis Lee with the Sixth Precinct, this is my partner, Helen Marks. We’d like to ask you a few questions.”

The man shoved off Davis’ hand but soon found it was harder to stand without it. “Yeah, so- what do you want? Are you going to replace my car?”

“You don’t have insurance?”

“Yes, but I hadn’t registered this car with the company. Just got it yesterday- after I was promoted.”

“But before you went out to celebrate?” asked Helen.

“Yeah, so I went out for a couple of drinks.” Mr. Beck eyed Helen’s figure pasted her leather jacket and jeans. “How about you and me get a few drinks? It’ll make me feel a whole lot better.”

“Just trying to get a feel for the situation, mister-“

“Carlyle. Carlyle Beck.”

“Did you know this giant personally, Mr. Beck?” asked Davis.

“Of course not. Why would I?”

“So you’ve never seen him before today?”

“No… Maybe? I don’t know, they walk around every morning doing a job, right? Catchin’ the sprites out of the air or something before they hit the ground? I’ve seen them in the morning if the big oaf wakes me with its goddammit feet.”

“The giants provide a much needed service, Mr. Beck.” stated Helen. “If they didn’t patrol the streets of suburban neighborhoods like yours, the sprites would land and start sprouting out flora like you wouldn’t believe.”

“I think I’d rather deal with a couple of daisies than have my home and car smashed!”

“It really wouldn’t be much different, Mr. Beck.”

“Well, you know, they’re just letting everything that can speak two words together right have a job in human districts nowadays. It’s isn’t right.”

“Miss Marks?”

Helen looked over her shoulder. There was no one.

“Look down, chief.”

Helen looked down and was greeted by a rather short creature with pale green skin, large, crooked ears and large eyes. “Hello, Miss Marks, I’m Galdys Mary. I’m with GTG and I believe I have some interesting information for your investigation.”

“Fuck this! A goblin now? They’ll let anyone through-“

“Mr. Beck?” Helen turned to the drunk and eyed him up. “I think you’re done here. Please be quiet and leave.”

“This’s my house! I’ll stay here and shout if I goddammit feel like it! All these dammed things running around my house! I demand justice, you harpy!”

“I’m surprised you were insightful enough to figure that out.”

Mr. Beck’s mouth fell slightly agape. He looked Helen up and down. “You- you’re a half-breed?”

“On my mother’s side. Goodbye, Mr. Beck.”

Helen turned and walked away with Gladys. Davis leaned over and gently closed Mr. Beck’s mouth. “Have a good one, sir!” He said, almost a little too happily before he turned and caught up with Helen.