Part 1
The harder I tried to focus on the numbers on the meter, the more they became an unreadable blur.
It didn't matter. Police checkpoints were usually not that many on weekends. Plus, I had a valuable reason for going this fast.
I need to get home as soon as possible to make sure I'm the only one who receives the letter from the president of Austria.
No one else should go through it.
The night is dark and gloomier than yesterday. Is it going to rain?
Even so, I refuse to turn my headlights on. This would bring unwanted attention, especially from patrolling cops near me. Or even road bandits.
I saw my tall apartment five blocks away. I checked my watch.
"Great. Five minutes to midnight."
My heart was at ease. The letter was scheduled to arrive exactly when the clock struck twenty four.
Just when I was feeling relieved, a broad sharp light pierced through the windscreen to my eyes. My feet hit the brakes instantly.
Another car stopped right in front facing mine. And it had parked there.
Blocking my way.
A regular car, without any authority. In other words, a citizen was wasting my time. My precious time.
What kind of degenerate is this?
I stepped out of my car. My breath was hitching. Curses were bottled up at the back of my throat, waiting for release.
The citizen's driving wasn't sloppy, so they weren't drunk.
Most inexperienced drivers who have not mastered the road directions are women. This driver was coming at me in the opposite direction, so she must be a woman.
But how had she missed the direction sign at the junction? Was she short sighted and had forgotten her glasses?
But driving without seeing clearly, that's illogical for a sane person! Unless...she has contact lens and is doing this deliberately.
"Hey! You've followed the wrong route, miss!"
I shouted at the parked car. No response.
Is she luring me? Yes, she wants me to get over there. If this is a trap, so be it. I'll talk my way out of it in ten seconds and get home!
Shutting the door of my car brutally, I trodded heavily to the deaf degenerate who was wasting my time. Her windows are tinted and I can't see inside. I raise my white knuckles and knock on the glass surface.
The driver's window rolled down to reveal an ethereal blonde beauty with droopy honey eyes.
A smirk played on my visage. I was not smiling because my anger had vanished due to how breath taking she was, no. I couldn't care less about her long, golden lashes. I was smiling because I was correct. It had turned out to be a clumsy woman just as I had predicted. And she was indeed wearing lenses.
"Do you mind moving out of the way? I'm in a hurry you know?"
My tone was colder than I had intended it to be.
The girl looked at me discerningly, then without any respect, scoffed at my words.
What the hell? Did she just-
Who does she think she is!
As if reading my mind, she brandished a shining identification card right in my face.
"Aurelia Bremington. A mid-rank undercover cop, just for some months though. I caught you speeding all the way from the highway half an hour ago and took a shortcut to corner you."
Thirty whole minutes chasing after my car? Why the hell couldn't she overlook it?
"Do you hold a grudge against me? I don't remember meeting you.."
I stared at her with no particular expression.
No matter how much I tried to remember, I did not recall any interaction with someone like her.
A cold item wrapped around my wrist. I looked down to see a pair of handcuffs- connecting my hand to her.
"No, I have no grudge, mister. Now, get in. I can't have you running loose after I've finally caught up with you."
Shit! I was planning to negotiate but now it seems impossible. She must've known I was about to, and cuffed me to herself to gain the upper hand.
Her silent piercing gaze confirmed my thoughts.
And her satisfied smile.
It was enough to make me go haywire with frustration. It seems I'll be the one holding a grudge.
I took a last glance at my watch that read ten past twelve.
Then with a longing look towards my apartment, I cursed inwardly.
"I will never forget this, Aurelia Bremington!"
She opened the car door and patted the seat beside her jovially.
"My car is fitted with the best quality high grade heater in this area, so it will be a comfortable ride for the both of us, mister."
I looked at her condescendingly. Then I hopped in.
Part 2
The station was too brightly lit. Bad for my youthful eyes which were sunken. My racing constant thoughts never let me rest, even in sleep.
The reason being my exceptionally above average ability to perceive everything around me, potentially making me a somehow observant genius in my own suitable manner.
Many have praised me during my childhood because of that irrefutable fact.That is why I always have a tired appearance.
My dark long hair hides my dark eyes well at times, greatly de-intensifying my worn demeanour.
Three cops were standing over me. Well, they were scribbling notes down their pocket books- writing down what Aurelia was saying about her chasing me.
Aurelia was giving me a side look the whole time she was explaining, and it came as a warning to me.
I could almost hear her inner voice scolding me.
"Don't try to make this matter any more complicated by trying to negotiate, mister."
That's what I imagine her to be saying.
The two male cops turn to me, asking for my details so that they can issue for a speeding ticket that I have to get fined for.
I let out an annoyed sigh.
"What's your name?"
One of the male cops was pointing their pen at me intimidatingly.
Seriously? A pistol would be more effective if you are trying to extort information out of me.
"I hate introducing myself."
My tone was calm as always, even under this pressure.
But somehow I felt insecure. Did they really not know me or was it all an act to make me humble?
Did they not know me, of all people?
"Didn't you hear what he said, mister?"
Aurelia banged the table. A pistol was in her hand.
She was glaring at me.
Her cold adult tone did not go well with her doll face at all. She was probably in her mid-twenties, I could tell.
"Stop wasting our time, mister. We have homes to go to!"
What a funny girl. Lecturing me about time when she wasted mine?
"You should resign from the police department and join a circus instead."
I accidentally said my intrusive thoughts out loud, and everyone looked at me as if they had just seen a phantom.
"Huh?"
A blank expression was registered on her face. A silence ensued among us.
Ah, I know this trope. An unpleasant outburst will soon follow, usually in defence of the mocked. Ironically, the outburst won't come from Aurelia.
I call it 'The queen's doormat' trope.
You see, in any line of profession, there is bound to be at least one woman who is the centre of attraction of several male colleagues- both bachelors and also married. And the married are prone to feel even stronger attraction to her than the unmarried ones.
The male colleagues will try to win her over by mostly doing her favors to earn her trust or they will parry any harm coming her way, be it physical or mental. They are content to shield their queen against the freezing cold of the floor, acting as the doormat, free to be stepped upon.
"You insensitive jerk! How dare you answer Aurelia that way!"
One of the cops slumps my head roughly aginst the table, pushing a baton right on my nape.
Hah. I was right once again. Humans are creatures who follow patterns that repeat in a monotonous cycle. That's why they are easy to read and predict.
The officer poking my neck glares at me, then glances back at Aurelia to see if she was watching.
He wants praise? What a pushover. Even his calm fellow cop here is smart enough to realize how far Aurelia is out of his league.
A pity Aurelia smacked the baton out of his hand, startling the officer by her sudden reaction.
"Don't touch mister. I brought him in for questioning, and I will not bear to see him suffer any casualty under my watch."
She growled and the officer backed away in shame.
A small chuckle escaped my lips.
This made Aurelia turn sharply to me.
"The fine you were charged has risen due to insulting a police officer, mister. Mocking the law is punishable. And every five minutes you stay silent, refusing to provide your details, will count as a rebellious act obstructing justice. This will raise your fine as well."
Aurelia crossed her arms and sat across me at the table.
She thinks she's winning? Okay. I guess we will stay here staring at each other all night, Aurelia.
Because no fine is too big for my pocket!
I'm wearing a heavy black over coat right now but Aurelia is in an orange tank top and grey shorts. Let's see how long you can last under this cold before your teeth starts chattering, Miss Justice!
Two hours passed.
The male cops had long bid Aurelia farewell and left the station.
Now it was only the two of us. Staring at each other silently. I could feel an electric spark radiating between us, emanating our desire to overwhelm the other.
During the two hours, I had come to study every dimension of the blonde beauty before me.
I noticed the mole just below her left ear. And her lower neck had some lingering traces of red rashes, probably dating from summer.
She was either suffering from a skin illness or was allergic to high temperatures.
Was that why she was so confident under cold weather? Dressing lightly?
I had also deduced her favourite colour, snacks, movie preferences and love interest based on her recent actions and conversations I had witnessed.
Then, something that I had been anticipating happened.
Aurelia started shivering, looking down and wrapping her arms around herself.
This is my chance to talk my way out.
"Hey, Miss Aurelia. You're probably not feeling well, so it would be better if you let me-"
"Quiet. Unless you want to share your details, anything you can and will say is utter nonsense and doesn't concern me."
I knew it. It would not be easy to convince such a devoted person as her.
My mind wandered over to the letter from Austria's president. It had already reached my address by now, and someone had possibly seen its contents.
And it was all this stubborn girl's fault.
Let her catch pneumonia, please God.
A person entered on us, holding a bunch of silver keys. I presumed him to be the station guard keeper. His eyes settled on me, then I saw them widen.
I instantly knew why he was surprised. Bingo. Finally, someone who had some sense in him.
"Mister Xavier Gramwell?! W-what brings you here at this hour?"
Aurelia thwarted a puzzled look at me.
Her brow was raised.
"You know this man?"
She was facing the station keeper.
The station keeper repeatedly shook my hand in friendly greetings.
"Who doesn't? He is an international lawyer who is trusted by various elites all over the globe! I heard that you established peace in Austria after the former president was assassinated. Then the vice president took over temporarily per your recommendation to the people of Austria."
I took notice of Aurelia's shocked face and nodded proudly at the mention of my honorable achievement.
Aurelia could not keep her mouth closed after hearing the station keeper's words.
She quickly stood up and muttered:
"Impossible.."
This is what my status does to people. And seeing their priceless reactions was worth every blink.