CHLOE RUSSO
26th June
12: 54 AM
We were forging ahead with the case. We had found some footprints which could possibly lead us to the criminal. Tim was not at all bolshie; he showed no lack of interest in the case. He was as much eager to get on with the case as we all were. It seemed like he was longing for some peaceful moment where he no longer had to worry about the murder or about his financial duties.
I tied my hair into a loose pony and then put a strand of hair behind my ears. I checked on my wrist watch. ’12:54’! I was in terrible need of sleep. Last night too we had been working on the Deutche Bank robbery case and now this. This was more than my body could take. I felt my vision blackening and my head paining as though someone had hammered it. My eyes were aching badly too. Then my feet were also not far behind in providing me with trouble. That was when Selena entered the washroom. She cat walked to me and let out a grin.
“You having another terrible night?” she asked, as she put her hand on my shoulder. I smiled back but weakly.
“I think so. I am cursing the day I joined the force. Wish could go back to high school,” I sighed heavily recalling the pleasant memories of my high school days where I didn’t have to worry about anything but getting good grades.
She smiled in support. The only bulb in the room was lambenting. We both looked at it and then decided it was time to go out.
“Why did Chief call you?” I asked Selena.
“He said it would be nice to have some extra help,” she replied playing with her hair in her innocent manner. Selena was an intern who had joined us this summer for her training. She was a brunette with an freckled face and medium height. Although her face was covered with freckles she still managed to look pretty.
“I don’t know why he troubled you. I mean you are just an intern, you don’t need to bother yourself with these special night shifts. And also we have other people who sit idle all day long to do this job.”
“But I enjoy this. It makes me feel special and important than my friends, who have nothing else to do but gossip,” she was excited. Everyone is excited about this job at first but then after five years of this work, everything changes. I could tell this by my experience.
“Chief asked me to fill you in with the information about the case,” I said as I stomped out angrily out of the washroom with Selena beside me.
“Go ahead, miss,” she said.
“Amanda Bailey was found dead by her security guard at her Beverly Hills mansion. Tim, the guard called us and we went there. She was shot dead at the heart. We couldn’t find much from her body except for the bruises. Maybe forensics get success-” she stopped me in between.
“What about any footprints, fingerprints or any thing else?”
“I was coming on to that,” I told her. She looked at me and was trying to read my mind. “We found some footprints which are being investigated by the forensics. The body has gone for autopsy. Maybe they’ll give us more vital information.”
Selena, though with a composed expression, was excited I could tell. She put her arms in her jacket and we made a beeline towards the interrogation room where Tim was being held hostage. The pale corridor smelled pungent as it always does and the weak tube lights did little to absorb my boredom and lethargy. I saw Mike coming form that side f the corridor with some files in his hands.
“Hey, Chloe! I finally found that Lanter file. Here it is,” he said taking out the red coloured file out from the pile he was holding.
“Thanks by the way. But I don’t think we’ll need it now. But you give me,” I said taking the file in my hands.
“That’s up to you. I heard you people got a new case,” he asked.
“Yes we did,” I replied sourly.
“I am so lucky to be an office boy. At least, I can go back now and sleep tight in my air conditioned room,” he joked but with no intention of hurting me.
“Even the station has ACs,” I reminded him. Although I didn’t mind his joke but didn’t burst out into a laugh like Mike and Selena did.
“Hey, I got to go before Chief gives me another duty,” he said and swiftly walked towards the exit door before I could say anything.
“Strange guy!” Selena remarked and I agreed with her in my mind.
2:30 AM
“You were saying something about the limousine driver, I guess. Go one and tell us,” Chief ordered Adam, other of the Amanda’s security guards.
I looked out around the room. Derek, Roger, Jack, Selena and Tim were standing intently listening to Chief and Adam.
“Ms. Amanda went to the premiere in the hired limousine. The driver is my friend. Maybe he would be able to tell us something. The name is Benny,” Adam said coolly. Chief looked at all of us and smiled insanely. He always did this when he got any lead. I walked to Adam and asked him,” Where will we find him? I mean do you have his number?”
“Yes I have it with me,” he said as he retrieved his cell phone from the pocket of his trousers. Adam must have been in his mid-forties with a white streak in his hair.
“Did I ask you take out the phone? Do as you’re asked” Chief roared.
Poor Adam sank down his head and then kept the phone back inside. “C’mon give it to me now,” Chief ordered him again/ My heart went out for Adam but then this was the way Chief worked
Adam gave Chief the number and he handed it to me. I went to the only phone in the room and dialled the given number.
‘Tring-tring-tring,’ was the only sound. No one picked up the phone even five minutes. I looked at Chief and shooed my head in disappointment.
“No one’s picking?” He asked me in utter sadness.
“No Chief,” I said and finally hung up the receiver.
“Why is he no picking?” Chief asked Adam.
“How am I supposed to know? I am here with you for the past two hours, ain’t I?” Adam shot back this time. He was wrong in doing this. Chief held his chin in his huge hand and then pressed it hard as if crushing a chalk.
“You don’t mess with me, do you?” He bellowed while Adam shuddered in his chair. After what seemed like eternity Chief let off his grip from Adam’s chin and then turned towards us. “Track down this guy. I want him in front of me,” he said. We all nodded and at once set out of the room except for Jack leaving Chief with the two suspects.
3:49 AM
Derek reported in, with a gloomy expression on his face, his gaze refusing to meet ours.
Chief looked at me and sighed deeply, sinking down his head onto his hands.
“What happened?” I asked till in a hope of positive answer.
“The limo driver got killed. He was found dead outside the city. I have sent a force for the interrogation and they would send the body for autopsy. No one yet knows how he got killed though we’re suspecting gunshot.” Derek elucidated.
Chief looked up but did not meeting anyone’s gaze, locking his eyes on a point at the wall.
“This case is bringing so much of disappointment. I think I have to jump in the battle field myself now. Should have done this a long ago. It’s now about the reputation of our department. I will put a kibosh on this criminal’s activities.” Chief said, his voice full of determination.
