by Kristen Rose
*
O’Connell sits at his desk. A gust of wind pushes enters through his office window, ruffling the waves of his hair. He is reading the transcript from his interrogation with Marcus Verdad dated two months ago, a troubled expression on his face.
He searches through the pages of script again and again, his sweaty forehead resting in his left palm. A knock on the door disturbs his train of thought and he jerks his head up angrily. He looks straight ahead and sees his boss’ secretary waiting on the other side of the door, a grim expression on her pointed face. O’Connell rolls his faded leather chair backwards and stands up tall. His bothered expression is mirrored with a quick paced walk towards the door. He yanks it open, the glass window shudders.
‘Yes Kerry?’ Noise from the busy hallway outside filters into his office. He eyes Kerry, taking in her innocent twenty-something face plastered with make-up. Her red hair slicked into a bun.
‘Mr Holmes sent me for an update.’ She brushes her hands nervously down her fitted black dress.
‘An update? I told him I would let him know if I found anything new.’ His voice raises a few decibels.
‘I know, but he’s starting to get impatient.’ She leans in. ‘Look, I overheard him say that if you don’t find something soon he’s going to let the case go. He doesn’t even understand why you haven’t given it up yet. I mean, this guy hasn’t really done anything incriminating.’
‘That we know of. Come on, he’s loosely linked to dozens of murders, don’t you think that’s beyond coincidence?’ He whispers, leaning against the door frame and crossing his arms.
‘It’s not my job to make assumptions on these things.’ She paused awkwardly. ‘Mr Holmes wants to know about that girl. Have you found anything yet?’
O’Connell hesitates. ‘No. I wish I hadn’t mentioned her to Verdad, he’ll be looking for her now too.’
‘How do you know that?’
‘Because she knows something, I’m sure of it. I can guarantee you he’ll want to make sure all witnesses are taken care of, whether they are reliable or not.’
‘Mr Holmes says that the only reason you’re still working on this case is because you’ve got some sort of vendetta against this ... Verdad. Is that true?’
O’Connell pauses. ‘No.’ He finally says with forced composure. ‘Look, I just have a gut feeling. This guy is no good.’
‘Well, alright. But I need to tell Mr Holmes something. He’s already in a bad mood and it’s not even ten o’clock.’ She shudders.
‘Tell him ... tell him I’m going to see Jennifer Barns’ parents again. Rogers’ neglected to tell me that Verdad visited them last month.’ He says bitterly. ‘I need to find out why. Also, I know they’re lying, they know where she is and I’m going to make sure I get it out of them this time. I just hope Verdad hasn’t already.’
‘When are you going to see them?’
‘In a few weeks.’ He spits.
‘A few weeks! I don’t think Mr Holmes will like that answer.’ She shudders at the thought.
‘Well, he’ll have to. They’re out of the country at the moment. I can’t do anything about it.’
‘Oh, well, that’s unfortunate. But, it does buy you some time.’ She adds hopefully.
‘Yes, I just hope Verdad is no closer to finding Jennifer than I am.’ He says, more to himself.
‘Well ... good luck.’ She attempts a smile.
‘Thanks.’ O’Connell removes himself from the door frame and slips the door shut. He walks back to his desk, defeated. When he arrives he sits back down, wheels his chair microscopically close to the edge of the desk and resumes examining the transcript.
#4 La Fiesta
