Radical

by Sijal Aziz

  “We know that”, the mayor said, “captain Todd has told us everything. We will be holding a press conference within half an hour and we will sure let the whole world know what you two have done for the city of Washington, the president and the people”

  “Thank you, sir”, Derek and Kate both said together.

  “We just hope we have more people like you in this great country of ours”, captain Todd chimed in.

  “Well it was a pleasure to meet you, Detective Markus and Ms. Hawkins. We’d better be on our way”

  “It was a pleasure to meet you too sir”, Derek said.

  “It was a pleasure to meet you too”, Kate said.

  When they had left, detective Derek said, “Where was I?”

  The room to his door opened again and captain Todd said, “I hope you watch the news conference, which is about to happen. I don’t want us to get our facts mixed up, so take my lead. If you meet any members of the press later. You have to tell them the facts exactly as I will relay them today. So, watch the press conference!”

  “Yes, sir”

  Captain Todd closed the door and left.

  “We will not have a single moment alone, would we?”, Kate asked smiling.

  “No, we wouldn’t, and I have just been ordered to watch a news conference that is going to take place at around 1 AM”

  “It’s better if we just laid down together”, Kate suggested.

  “I thought you’d never ask. But it’s difficult for me to keep my hands off you”, Derek said walking over to Kate.

  “For me too, but we have to remember that I am badly bruised, and you have a gunshot wound in your left arm”

  “I will remember to be gentle”, Derek said lying down next to Kate and kissing her.

  Kate backed off a little bit and said, “Shouldn’t you do what the captain has asked us to do?”

  “Screw the captain”, Derek said kissing Kate on the side of the face.

  “If you say so”, Kate said and kissed him back.

  Derek continued kissing Kate on the face and then moved down to her neck.

  The phone rang again.

  “What the fuck is wrong with these people”, Derek said angrily, “Can’t they let us have some peace?”

  He picked up the phone angrily, “What?”

  “This is Jeff, the captain wants you to turn the TV on now, the news conference has started.

  “Ok”, Derek said calming down a bit.

  He put the phone down and then took it off the hook.

  It was Jeff, the captain had asked him to remind us to watch the press conference, Derek said with a long face.

  Kate sat up on the bed and kissed Derek on the side of his face, “We can watch it Derek. He must really be worried otherwise he would not have asked Jeff to call us”

  “Yes. So, let’s watch it”

  “Don’t worry, we can start where we finished off again”

  “Hope so”

  Kate looked around for the TV remote and turned it on. The news conference was coming live on the very first channel she pressed. Then she changed to different channels and it was on every news channel.

  The TV screen showed the White House spokesperson, standing at the podium and giving a rundown of the events.

  After he was done, the president gave a short speech, “What happened today, had never happened in American history before. We were able to thwart a terrorist act that could have killed thousands of Americans.

  No president in the history of America has been able to save thousands of American lives right here in Washington DC. It is only due to my exceptional administration policies that captain Todd here has been able to save us from this catastrophe.

  Ladies and gentlemen of the media, I would like to introduce captain Theodore Brown from the second district Washington Police Department. He is a fantastic guy”

  Captain Todd made his way over to the podium beaming with pride. The president stood there, shook his hand and patted him on the back and made his way out of the press conference.

  Before captain Todd could even speak there was a barrage of questions from the reporters. Captain Todd held his hand up and said, “Ladies and gentlemen before I answer any of your questions, I would like to thank the president for putting his trust in the great men and women of the Washington Police Department, our mayor and our chief of police.

  Without them we would never have been able to pull this off. I would also like to thank the detectives in my station especially detective Derek Markus and our external consultant Ms. Katherine Hawkins who was instrumental in thwarting this catastrophe. Alexander Cooper was a man who was bent upon killing thousands of Americans.

  He was born and raised in United States. He studied here but somewhere during his past he was radicalized by some events, which shaped him into a terrorist.

  Along with this case, we have also solved a number of murder cases not only in the District of Columbia but other states as well. You will receive a complete report from my office next week.

  At the moment, if you have any questions, the honorable mayor, the honorable chief of police and I would be happy to answer them for you”, captain Todd knew that the reporters only had questions for him but he wanted to make the mayor and police chief feel important too.

  The reporters all started at once, “Isn’t it true captain Todd, that Ms. Hawkins was undergoing a murder investigation by your department and ran away from your custody was a fugitive?”

  “What event radicalized Alexander Cooper? How come the secret agencies of Untied States of America not know about him and what he was up to? Do you think the Washington Police Department is better than our secret agencies?”

  “Has Kathrine Hawkins been arrested or is she free? When can we talk to her?”

  “Why wasn’t the FBI involved in this?”

  “Did the president know that drones would be falling from the sky during the launch event?”

  “Does your police department ever want to work with drones again?”

  Somewhere during the press conference, Derek and Kate both slept in each other’s arms. They were woken up at 7:00 AM in the morning by a doctor.

  Derek opened his eyes and saw Kate lying down next to him.

  “Mr. Markus, your colleague had informed me yesterday that you wanted a quick discharge. I can see from your vitals and chart that you do not need to stay with us any longer”

  “Can I take a shower after I get the discharge?”

  “Sure, your bandage won’t get wet and as long as you don’t make any jerky movements with your arm, you will be fine”

  “Thank you doctor”

  Kate checked the time on her cellphone and said, “Oh shit. It’s 7:15 already. I have to be in court by 9. We better leave now”

  “Would you like to get ready at my apartment?”, Derek asked.

  “No, please drop me off at my apartment. I will change into something less provocative”

  “Right”, Derek said.

  “Let me change back into my clothes again”, Derek said.

  “Aren’t they covered in blood?”

  “They are but it would be illegal for me to leave here in hospital’s clothes”, Derek said smiling, “I will go to my apartment and change them. I also need to drop down at the station and hand over my report to the captain. I will meet you outside the courthouse once I am done”

  “Looking forward to meeting you again detective Markus”

  “And I am also looking forward to meeting you again Ms. Hawkins”

  Derek dropped off Kate and went straight to his apartment. He took a shower with some effort. The effect of the pain killers was wearing off and he was feeling some pain in his arm. He dried himself and put on his suit and drove straight to the station.

  When he reached the station all the detectives and officers got off from their seats and started clapping for him. He thanked them and went straight to his computer and started typing his report. Once finished, he typed his application
for a two week long leave. Printed both and took them to captain.

  The captain was in an ecstatic mood. If Derek had asked him for a two-year long leave, he would have given it to him.

  “You deserve it detective. See you after two weeks”

  “Thank you, captain,”

  Kate took a quick shower, changed into a white blouse and black pants and took a taxi to the courthouse.

  CHAPTER 34

  The court house was filled to the capacity when Katherine reached. She shook hands with her attorney that the city had assigned for her.

  The case did not last for more than 15 minutes. The defense and prosecuting attorney gave statements in favor of the defendant for 10 minutes. The judge was ready to rule by 12 minutes.

  “I have been a judge for 15 years, I have never heard or read of a case where the prosecuting and the defense were falling over one and other in their praises for the defendant.

  Ms. Katherine Hawkins, I have to say that we are all very proud of what you have done for us and also very thankful. My own daughter was at the drone launch event and we are thankful that she is safe. I feel honored to hand down this decision to you. The state of District of Columbia exonerates you from the charge of escaping from the custody of the police. You are free. I am also recommending that the government honors your service with a suitable award. This case is adjourned”

  Kate got off her seat and hugged her attorney. The judge got off from the podium and walked over to Kate and shook her hand. It is an honor to have you with us Ms. Hawkins”

  “The honor is all mine your honor and thank you so much”

  “Have a wonderful life, young lady”, the judge said and left, and people started gathering around Kate to shake her hand. After what looked like hours, Kate finally broke free from the people and headed out of the courtroom to be with Derek.

  Derek just reached the courthouse, as Kate was coming out. He had to wait for Jeff at the office to get tickets and hotel reservation for Bahamas from him.

  As he was getting out of his car, he saw her descending gracefully from the courtroom stairs. She was headed towards him with a smile on her face that said it all. The reporters gathered around her for a minute or two, but she was able to break free from them and she gave him a smile that said it all.

  Finally, they could continue, what they started at night.