I always hear it. I always smell it. The paramedics, the cops, the bodies; always they are part of my day but tonight…. Tonight was different.
Sirens blazing, yellow tape all over the place. I am sitting in the ambulance, a big gray blanket over my shoulders. I was still crying. My new team of Forensics were already inside dusting the whole place and collecting clues. Other cops were inside too. I guess a neighbor called the police.
Not that I cared though. I was too shocked to even notice my environment.
I didn't hear the leaves crack underneath his feet as he approached until his hands fell on my shoulder. I was hesitant but nonetheless, I looked up with my tear-filled eyes.
Officer John smiled at me. He patted my shoulder again.
"I know this is ridiculous, but a shell casing that matched your gun ammo was found at the scene of the crime and there's also the fact that the caller identified you as the last person seen entering the building, which makes you a suspect. So…"
He took out his handcuffs.
"I need to take you in for questioning… but don't worry, you will be fine. At most, they will ask you a couple of questions, and it will be…"
I put out my wrist. "Do your job, John. Don't worry about me."
He gazed at me and sighed.
"I'm sorry." he muttered and cuffed me.
I was led to one of the police cars parked outside the building. I got into the back, he took the front.
There was already an officer occupying the driver's seat.
"Take us to the station."
The officer nodded, started up the car and drove off into the street.
The car was stuffy, I needed some fresh air. My hands were bonded, yes, but I still went for the window button.
Apparently, it wasn't as hard as I imagined it. With the button successfully pressed, the window slid down slowly. I put my face right out the window.
'It's cold tonight. A cup of hot cocoa would be nice right now. I can't believe she is no longer here to make it for me'
Tears formed under my eyes.
'If only I hadn't moved out, if only I handled him myself instead of letting you do it your way, that mad son of a … How could I not have noticed that he was capable of this. My poor Udom. I am sorry. I really am. I will come keep you company, okay?'
I pressed the window button again and it closed up.
'I'm going to be with you soon'
The police car took a turn at the sharp bend and ran straight for the open gates of the station. In not less than two minutes, he got the car through the gate and parked it decently on the side. The two officers alighted first. Then John went over to me and opened the car door.
I stepped out, he shut the door behind me and then held my hand.
"Let's go inside."
I nodded softly and followed him. We walked slowly in the scarcely occupied police station, took a few turns and went down some stairs until we got to the holding cells.
He unlocked the neatest one for me and gestured for me to go in. I walked past him into the compartment, he locked the cell.
"This is only temporary. Your case will be handled quickly. It seems messy at most, but I am sure that you did it for self defense so you will be out of here soon."
I looked up at him and let out a tired smile. He smiled back before pulling away from the prison's bars and leaving.
I heard a door shut in the distance. A heavy sigh fell out of my lips. I know I'm troublesome, and I know I am quite hot-tempered, but I never imagined that one day I would spend the night here, in the same place I put criminals.
"huh!"
'Why is life so unfair to me?'
*******
*Creeeek*
A metal door clanged in the distance. Two heavy boots parade themselves noisily down the walkway. One proud step at a time until they stopped in front of my cell.
I wasn't sleeping, but I pretended to so it would go away. But it didn't. A police baton collided with the bars, jilting me out of my cozy rest. I couldn't ignore this bastard anymore.
I had only been here for a night and some people were already putting on airs.
'Tsk, how troublesome.'
I raised my fallen head and looked at him.
'Oh, it's beef, I mean who else could be so cocky.'
Fat, sloppy, chubby-cheeked glutton, liable to die young. The one and best customer of Beef sausage and Stake eat-outs, Patrick Stan. But everyone calls him 'beef'.
He earned this title the day he came to work with a pocket full of stakes. Well, he said he was hungry, so you can't really blame the guy. I wasn't okay with the name-calling thing until the D.P.O made him a mini warden when he put him in charge of the holding cell.
He began navigating so proudly around the station as if he was above the D.P.O. himself. I guess trash will always be trash.
"What are you staring at?"He grunted.
I looked away.
He unlocked my cell and threw the gate wide open.
"Come out."
"Where's John?" I asked, ignoring his instructions.
He glared at me but he didn't act. I guess he wasn't so stupid after all. I was still his senior and the chances that my case would lock me up for good were very slim. And certainly, he didn't want to be on my bad side when I returned.
"His night shift is over, so he went home."
"Oh." I responded, disappointed.
I stood up and walked out of the cell. He locked it behind me. Hands on my arm, he dragged me up the walkway, the stairs, the station floors, through doors until I was seated in the interrogation room.
Red eyes forward, staring at the mirror in front of me. The interrogator is probably staring back at me right now and preparing his mode of approach. I know all their tactics, so I wonder what method they will use. Just thinking about it made me feel the urge to flash him a smug smile.
The lights went off. I chuckled like a mad scientist.
'So they are going to go for the 'off the books' interrogation. As expected'
Someone squeezed the handle and the door opened, the light outside flooded the right side of the room. He walked in and closed it. The room was dark again. I heard him pull the chair backwards and sit down.
Then noiseless sounds were made on the table and the lantern in-between me and the interrogator went on. I squinted, looking away.
"It's bright, isn't it? My apologies, but it's necessary if I want to make it look like I'm not going easy on you. You know the ropes, so I'm sure you understand." he started slowly. His deep tone was the calmest I heard in years.
"Yeah." I responded, still not looking his way.
His voice wasn't familiar, but at that moment I didn't care.
"Look at me. Let's talk face to face at least."
I frowned. 'Tsk, another troublemaker. I hope this ends soon'
I looked.
"Oh Shit."