by E R Landron
“After what he did to one of us... He'll be locked up for a long time. Go to your house and rest, that's an order.”
The captain turns to my ear and whispered with an upset demeanor. “You left the scene of the crime in a rush. This cannot happen again until you are cleared. I know you are in stress, but you have to get your head in the game.” I sigh and press my lips.
The captain put his hand on my shoulder and gently pulled me to his side and continues to calm me down.
MARTINEZ
Mieke walks away with the Captain. I keep waving like a pendejo until they round the corner. I’m all alone. I drop my stupid smile. Who does she think she is? Y que fuese la más rica! The custodian left his cleaning tools. I drop the phone on the bucket of water. I pick it up and begin to dry it. Smells like shit. It doesn't turn on. Good. Let me get el Lucas ese.
He’s still at the floor. Lucas wakes up as I turn the keys to his cell. I want to beat the shit of this man. I thought he was a professional. I take his expensive suit and shake him up.
“Where is it!?”, I yell at him.
KOKOLITE Night – Church, 2:34 AM
The church is closed. Steps echo through the hall. A white glow comes out of my coat. It’s so pretty. Best thing of saving them is having a piece of heaven with me. I can’t contain my smile. Thanks, Lord for blessing me this night. I don’t mind their thoughts now. They are gone anyways. I’m the one who is left with…
“Shiiiiny!”
MIEKE Night – Mieke’s Apartment, 3:30 AM
I swing the apartment door open. My shoulders are beaten. My hands can’t go lower. Stupid night. The answering machine is flashing. I push the blinking light. I open the fridge. Gatorade. “Hey, Mieke! I'm staying over Stacy's, don't wait up. Take care” I shug the so-called electrolytes as I hear Diane’s voice.
Even in today, there are not much of phones going around, just cell phones, I’m more like dad in that sense. I like having a home phone with the old answering machine with tapes. Dad always said that: "One day you won't be able to rely on those small gadgets". I still keep grandad’s old cuckoo clock. Haven’t fixed it though. I’ve postponed to fix it so many times. I have stopped seen it and ignoring it as if it just would of tell me to "fix me!" if we cross sight. I’m tired, but I’m in so much stress. Punching bag. My fist starts beating it ferociously. Tears run through my cheeks. Blood begins to stain the punching bag. I can’t go on! I can’t… go on. I fall to the floor taking deep breathes. I cover my face while tears escape. I don’t like people seeing my emotions. I hide everything. If something big happened on the day, I would just bottle it up until I got here. I could of keep it up if Diane was in.
Clothes start falling to the floor. The bathroom lights turn. I get into the shower. Water begins to hit my body. The warm of the water feels like a hug. I need a hug. Blood is mixed with water on the floor, as well of dust and whatever was on the streets where the fight took place. I turn off the water and step out. Panties and a shirt. Just want to sleep now. I hop in bed and turn the TV. I can’t make what the tube is saying. I stare at the ceiling without blinking for a while. Deep breaths. Deep breaths.
“What... the hell…was... that?”
BOUNCER Night - Bloody Mary Club, Close to Sunset
Every night is the same shit. People arrive at the club. Warehouse, fancy shit. Loud music, us keeping low-level people out, exotic cars, people on fancy cloth with a fake personality. The Bloody Mary Club is where I decided to work. What I’m babbling about. This pays more than your normal eight to five. Lights move side to side illuminating the sky. Celebrities get out of their limousines. Paparazzi are a headache trying to bribe us for photos. What happens here stays here. Always the long ass line with people with their hands cross, tapping their feet look as a few are skipped because they are high-level clientele.
Rule One of the Bloody Mary Club: People who get in, get to a window where they leave their cell phones and receive a ticket. After that, follow rule two: Have fun with no inhibitions. Today I’m here to guard the “entrance”. Only one lucky winner every night gets to enter.
People enter the warehouse, to the very fancy nightclub, lights flashing. Loud music surrounds the place, gorgeous people dancing. At the moment they play the Ashley Simpson, Outta my head remix from Dave Aude. Performers are going up and down with acrobatic skills from clothing on the ceiling. Corporate people are getting shots. Fireworks on drinks are being prepared. VIP sections are stacked. Some people are waving some big vodka bottles with fire sparkles on them screaming. There is a DJ with a big booth full of lights flashing while he's mixing the music. I don’t know why I’m upset. My night always sparkles when Kaitlyn comes out of the bar to deliver the weird envelopes.
I see her, she has two drinks on a tray with the envelope. Her curly hair bounces as she walks through the sea of people. She goes up some stairs gets to the VIP section and serves the drinks and gives the envelope to a businessman like person. I wish I could stare a bit more through her emerald eyes. Now I remember why I was upset earlier. I see the person ripping the envelope and shoves a woman dancing next to him. She frowns with an open jaw while he ignores her. He smirks, stands and walks away. The woman that was pushed is baffled. Another woman is calming her.
The man in the fancy ass suit walks through the crowd on the dance floor almost shoving more people and getting into a corridor to the side of the club. The corridor is dark. He gets to me. I gotta pretend I dunno what he’s coming for. He has the envelope. I’ll bet he’ll do a stupid thing and think I wouldn’t slam his face to the wall. He shows the envelope. I let him pass, he starts mocking continues to walk as he hits me with the envelope in my face. I don’t flinch. He has no idea. At the end of the corridor, there is an elevator. He hits the button and the elevator doors open and he enters.
EDDIE
Dumb ass bouncer. Tonight is finally my night. After working my ass off, I finally get to meet the so-called prince of the east. I’m well-groomed in my black, grey and white color attire with this fourteen karat watch. I hope is worth it. I don’t have infinite resources like that asshole. Let’s see here. I rip the envelope and take out a key as the elevator doors close. Mirror doors. I twist the key, and the lights turn red. The elevator signals it's going down. My tongue dances through my perfect teeth as I fix my tie and cufflinks. I am the man. My smirk looks devilish on my reddish reflection. The elevator stops, and the door opens. A corridor is almost lit by some light that is producing lots of shadows. The shadows look like they are figures, people, even animal. I can do weird things with shadows, and this is creepy. I swallow hard. I look closely to everything and anything. The corridor doesn’t seem to end. I might as well be on one of those Game of Thrones dungeons. I’m looking over my shoulder every few steps. My grin left me all the way back to the elevator. My right hand is shaking. A grueling silence surrounds me, and these stupid expensive crocodile shoes are pounding hard and echoing through the hall walls.
After walking for a while, different quick footsteps are heard very slightly. What was that? I clench a fist. My eyebrow rises. A light at the end turns and shows a gramophone. What the hell is that?
“This ain’t funny! If you want to know me, you can ask.” I yell.
Silence.
“Hello?”
I scratch my forehead. This is stupid. Before I take another step, some quick steps echoes. The gramophones start to play an instrumental sound. The music cracks up from time to time, and the sound fades as well. I turn to the gramophone. There must be someone close to it. Those things are old as fuck. I blink rapidly as more steps, and even quick laughs continue. I’m not going to wait for this bullshit. I form a shadow knife. I stop. I feel like something is watching me. I turn fast. A man with his face covered stands in front of me. I raise my fist. I’m going to fuck you up. I look to the side. Another ninja like covered man runs and is circling. Another circles me as well. And another. Sweat is pouring from my forehead. Th
ey are fast. I’m just going to attack them. An Asian man with a ninja outfit smiles next to me. A sting. I lower my head. Blood. More stings on my back. Side. Everything is blurry. I can’t breathe. I scream. I don’t… hear… the grama…
RIPA Dawn – Ripa’s Office - Close to Sunset
I’m tired. Surrounded by dumb blokes all the time. Luxurious office, marble floors, expensive modern furniture simplistic, spacious. Still a void. We as a society can do better. I am tired of all the hiding. Walls with paintings worth thousands or millions of dollars hang. Still, the portrait of the man in an expensive suit, well-groomed with a white porcelain face and the blackest hair perfectly combed hair looks better. Oh, wait that is me.
The right wall opens separating some wall decor, and Laim and his crew walk in. I do not get their ninja outfits. Whatever, they supposedly are the best. They should be by how much I am paying these cunts. I put down the paper reading my anonymous gesture. THE LEONARDO GETS HUGE DONATION. Laim’s crew stand in front of the desk.
“I'm very surprised you delivered.”, the shortest of them says.
“I still got some contracts on the street. Now is your turn. Find it quick. Make it clean.”, I say calmly enunciating.
An alarm rings on the office. A stare down produces an awkward silence. The short dressed ninja removes his mask revealing a man with Asian features. He is smiling mischievously.
“I didn't catch it all, but I guess we start tonight.”
My upper lip raises. That is Laim. He thinks he is clever. Cunt. He nods. Laim and the other men go back to the wall where they came from, to an elevator that closes and so does the wall. I head to the window at the end. Another night goes. The Bloody Mary Club. My first project. Now, look at you. Best club in town. Is not enough. Cars start leaving the parking. The big line is disbanding. I feel someone breathing behind me.
“Almost morning.”, Drake says.
“We have the sarcophagus, why we need the bloody orb?”, I say annoyed.
“It is a key. We can't be disturbed.”
Sunlight raises to hug the city. A shipwreck at the horizon, hospital, police station, church. Another alarm goes off, and we leave the room. The sunlight illuminates the room showing more of the office. The sound continues as drapes fall and cover the office leaving it dark again.
MIEKE Day - Mieke’s Apartment, 7:06 AM
The front entrance door closes hard. My eyes burst open. I roll out of the bed gun in hand. Some footsteps are getting close to her room. I go to the hallway tiptoeing and get behind the wall close where the old cuckoo clock is hanged. I pay attention to the sounds. One deep breath. I aim my gun jumping out of the wall.
“Freeze!”
“The fuck, Mieke, it's me!”
Diane's face looks like she saw her life flash through her eyes. She dropped her bag to the floor, but she managed to keep her latte intact. I grabbed the back of my neck. I feel my cheeks burn. I drop my hand holding the gun. Deep sigh getting new air in.
“Sorry. Diane...Rough night. How... How are you?”
I put the gun on the table nearby.
“With my heart over accelerated. Jesus Christ man!”
I don’t know what would I do if she’s gone. It’s weird to see a younger version of yourself. Though she has long hair, tattoos and with three more piercings. Her clothing is more jovial with a SoHo feel. She is on the artsy side of things.
“And Stacy?”, I ask.
“Good now, broke up with her boyfriend again. Needed bff time. We were going to go out, but before we even got to her place a hobo creeped us out, so we stayed in. And you? I can make breakfast.”, she finished with a huge smile.
“Eh yeah, breakfast... breakfast is fine. I'm a ... Last night was...”, I’m still embarrassed.
My cell phone on the kitchen counter rings. STATION is on the screen. I dive to answer.
“Get here fast!”, said the voice on the other side.
I rush out of the kitchen to my room. Get dress with haste. Shirt, jacket on hand, jeans, boots. Gun is on the table outside.
“I guess no breakfast then! At least lunch will be nice! Is not always work you know!”, she yells all the way from the kitchen.
I close my eyes, lower my head and slide my hand from my mouth towards my forehead. Diane opens the refrigerator of our cozy cottage style kitchen and starts putting food on the peninsula. I pick my gun from the little table. I walk back to Diane who is already preparing some breakfast. Veggies, orange juice, bread.
“Yeah, we'll do that. We’ll do lunch.”, I say trying not to stutter.
I kiss Diane in the back of the head and head out of the apartment. Diane's face of disappointment kills me. I have to do something to make it up to her. Yet what would have been so urgent? That’ll wait. Station now. I hope I get to question the son of a bitch.
Day – Police Station, 7:39 PM
My adrenaline is raising. My head is flowing with questions. I pick up my pace almost jogging. I turn to the corridor were the cell lies. Is full of officers. What happened? The Captain and Officer Martinez standing with other officers examining the cell. A sunbeam hits a pile of cloth and ash.
“What’s going on?”, I ask confused.
“Your guy escaped.”, the captain says.
“How the hell!?”
“I got an officer all night with him, he just vanished. It seems we got ourselves a Houdini.”, Martinez says brushing his stupid mustache.
“Yeah, detective. I was full of coffee and red bull... I found a lot of dust on the hall and when I came back... nothing...”, one of the officers says.
“Video feed?”, I snap.
“I got somebody on it.”, the captain says.
“Check his mug shot, set up an arrest for fucking Chris Angel. And checkup last night's entered items.”
“Just the phone. Dead end though. Burner phone, all clean.”, Martinez says.
I pull my hair and storms off. Martinez and the Captain are behind me walking at a fast pace.
“Where you heading?”, asks the captain.
“Disney!”, I snap.
“You need assistance?”, asks Martinez.
I ignore the question and keep walking. Both are trying to keep up without actually running.
“I admire your fire, but that's the same stubbornness that got the best of Herman!”, yells the captain.
I stopped at the stairs of the police station and took a deep breath with my hand on my waist. I do need to catch my breath as well. Right now talking about dad is like my Achilles heel. I can’t think straight.
“Tony can't help me now.”, I tried to sound normal. My voice is cracking up.
“He’s ok, he'll have some surgery, then some rest. Before you know it, he'll be here.”, the captain says.
“Hell, maybe he'll enjoy a little more being outside.”, mocks Martinez.
My eyes are blazing. I point my finger between his eyes. He presses his lips as his eyes cross.
“Shut up!”, I snap once more.
The Captain made a signal to Martinez to cut it.
“I’ll need later your info on this case. By the way, heard the Feds took over the docks.”
“Their case now.”, I say while adjusting my jacket.
“Mieke! Relax and calm down. Just be careful.”, the captain says while patting my shoulder.
I nod and continue my descend through the stairs. Captain is right. I should calm down. Maybe seeing Tony before surgery would be good for both of us. I take a look back. Martinez keeps staring at me. Creep. The Captain gives him a push for him to move. He hesitates then walks away.
Day – Hospital, 8:22 AM
I get out of the elevator and go to a counter and asks for Tony. I show the nurse my badge. The nurse points out the room, and she follows the direction. I’m not that fond of hospitals. At 3 AM waiting for your sister to finish some emergency asthma treatment when little was no fun. But now as a detective, it is a
place I visit easily at least once a week. Accidents, rape victims. It’s always something sensitive.
I enter the room. Tony is lying in bed with his whole arm wrapped and more bruises in the body and face that I remembered. Balloons, flowers and get well cards to fill up the room. What would have been if dad was just sick? I could just make excuses every day to see him. Talk to him, make jokes. I get next to Tony and pat his forehead. He slowly wakes up and smirks. In a vague whisper, he responds.
“Oh snap.”
“Hey, you.”, I say in my calmest voice ever.
“For reals? Or this is the end or besides that crazy cat, things going to go well from now on.”
I know deep inside that I haven’t been partner of the year in the force, in fact as much as I wanted to go solo, others didn't want to be my partner as well. Too strict, too demanding. The “bitch” as some call me to my back. The captain liked having me there since every case I receive gets closed without errors whatsoever. Moreover, Tony has tried for a while to get me to enjoy work a little and not take things so seriously. I say to him always: "you have to be serious when lives are on the line". That’s something dad used to tell me too.
“How you holding up?”, I ask.
“Well... like shit. And you complained about my coffee... geez. So what happened? I saw the hobo and other than that, it's all a blur.”
“I really don't know. But that hobo kinda saved your ass.”
“Shit. And I was all in his ass for being homeless.”, he says embarrassed.
“What did the doctors said?”
“After surgery? At least for a month or two depending on how the tendon and clavicle heal. After that therapy and rehabilitation for God knows… Doctor said that I'm lucky no nerves were damaged, nor the way the knife punctured me it didn't follow through any organs. They gave me options for painkillers, I will probably go with the cannabis, but don't tell James though, he is an old fart and will think I'm just a drug addict. “
