I lit up my cigar, placing it into the corner of my mouth as I took a deep puff and exhaled smoke from the tip of my nose, “just another day,” I thought, letting my back rest on the convertible red sports car while looking up at the sky, “another day that I will start my new job and life.” I took another drag from my cigar before tossing the butt onto the snowed ground, watching as the ashes fall into the earth below, “that is one hell of a waste,” I grumbled to myself.
With my two legs, I entered inside the police station which was still in disarray after the recent events. The building was dark with only dim lights shining in certain places where the sun does not reach. Few people are rushing around in here, either coming or going in their work duties and tasks.
The main public lobby is filled with a couple of chairs and tables that were once full of people but now mostly empty due to most of them having left for work. The smell of cigarettes and alcohols lingers throughout this place like any other busy night clubs, bars and pubs that are present in this city.
Its interior architecture is identical to that of the police station, a few additional desks and cubicles that have been used by officers who worked at the desk. On the wall behind the receptionist counter there is a clock hanging with the time set at 1:15 PM.
Now its my time to shine.
I casually approach to the receptionist counter, pressing the service bell on its table behind their glass to alert someone to come out and attend me, as expected, noticeable footsteps comes walking out from distance behind the counter, revealing a woman in her thirties wearing an officer uniform, her short brown hair and sporting pair of reading glasses. She has a calm and relaxed expression while looking at me through the glass window with mild interest, “good evening miss.”
“Can I help you?” She asked with curiosity while tilting her head to one side, taking off her spectacles to rub her eyes.
I nodded my head, “my name is Adam,” I introduced myself and she immediately recognized me without even asking. “Are you the new detective?” She asks, putting her glasses back on and turning to face me.
Smiling to myself, “yes, that is right.” I answer with confidence. She looks around to ensure no one else is listening in before leaning towards the counter, lowering her voice, “psst, if you were me; I would not trust anyone here,” she whispered to me in a low tone.
“Why is that?” I asked curiously as we both looked around again to see if there were any eavesdroppers. “They do not like outsiders, especially recruits,” she explained, “technically, what I am trying to say to you is that some of the cops in this city are corrupt and working for the criminals,” she says, making it clear to me.
“Oh yeah, I heard about that,” I replied, “do not need to worry about me though, I am not stupid enough to get involved with anything criminal,” I assured her. She chuckles a little, “that is good to hear, but…” a smile appears on her lips, “…you do not have to worry about any corrupt cops in this police station. Chief Walker is honest when dealing with his officers and all the other officers in the precinct.”
I nod my head to show that I understand, “yeah, yeah. How about I speak with Chief Walker about my new job?” I ask, “how can I reach him? He might be busy at work, so if he is out or unavailable… I could leave a message for him, perhaps?” I asked, seeing her expression change into an annoyed one.
“His here Adam, in fact; you did not have to ask me to. The chief himself is waiting for your arrival right now,” she informs me while tapping on the glass window with her finger. My eyes widen, spanning in motion to come face to face with Walker himself; crossing his arms as he stood with a stern look on his face.
“This young detective has been looking for you Chief Walker,” the receptionist behind the glass counter said. “What is it Detective Adams?” Walker asked me in a serious tone of voice, not smiling at all. I stand up straight to meet his gaze, “I was told by this lady here that I should speak with you regarding my employment and job position here.”
A sigh released from his lips, “my apologies Adam, follow me to my office and we will discuss things there. This way please.” Walker gestured towards a door on the side of the lobby before opening it for me to walk through. Walking down a long hallway with white walls and hardwood flooring, I followed the chief inside his private office.
His private office looked more like a room in a hotel than anything else. A large desk was placed against the far wall while several chairs were arranged around the circular table in the middle of the room. On top of the black wooden desk sat a small computer monitor connected to a tower desktop PC with gaming headset sitting next to it.
The hell? I never expected him to be a gamer… But then again, he is a commissioner. He must have some hobby in his free time or after work. Perhaps he is playing a shooter game, I wonder. The thought intrigued me because that would explain why Walker’s office was so clean, organized and neat as if it was made specifically for people who want to relax their minds in front of a screen.
“Take a seat Detective Adams,” Walker said to me while gesturing towards a leather chair on the opposite side of the table from where he sits. I sit down with my hands folded together on the edge of the round table, “now you have many questions about your job.”
I nod, “you got that right old man. What am I supposed to do? Find a cold case that needs closure?” Walker chuckles lightly at this statement before answering, “not exactly. Someone other than me is going to instruct you on what to do. You are a police detective now and have been assigned to help us discover the truth behind these recent incidents happening across our city.”
My eyes widen, “what did you just say Chief Walker? Someone is going to instruct me? Are you not the commissioner of this place? I thought you were in charge of all this stuff.” Walker smirks, leaning back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest, “do not worry Adam, I will always be here to assist you whenever you need my assistance. But someone else has taken over the investigation and it appears they want you to focus on something else additionally to your work.”
Wait a minute, there is something I want to ask.
“Uh, so I am not going to investigate how my facility was blown up by some supernatural entity that is linked to an infamous cult?” I asked.
Walker looks at me with confusion and annoyance as if he does not understand why I would ask such a question, “you have heard about it in the news, haven’t you? And you also want to take part in this case?” Voice dripping in sarcasm, “its obvious.”
I glare back at him, “what is your point then Chief Walker? Because something is telling me that I should not have know more about it, especially why you appear not to want me in the investigation regarding that case?” My eyes squinted, narrowing down on him, staring hard into his sunglasses.
He sighs and shakes his head before speaking in a calmer tone than usual, “look Adam, I do not like to repeat myself. So, let us cut the bullshit here. I just wanted to inform you that someone else has taken control of your investigation and it best for you to focus on this new task instead.”
I furrow my brow, “okay fine, but you know who I am right?” Walker shrugs, “yes I do. You are Adam. The new detective in this police department.” He pauses to take a cigar from his own pockets and lights it, puffing out smoke as he takes a long drag before continuing, “and before you do something stupid, like using your psychology manipulation bullshit on me, I should tell you that you have no authority to make any decisions concerning this case, or anything related to the supernatural. Your role is only to investigate and catch the scumbags that run freely in this garbage pile of a city. That is all.”
My face pales, “are you serious?” Walker nods with an arrogant smirk on his lips, “of course I am, why would I lie to you?”
I glare at him for a moment before sighing in defeat, “you really know a lot about me, huh? I wonder how you came up with all this information.” Walker shrugs as he continues puffing out smoke from his cigar, “what can I say? I am good at digging things out of people. Especially when they are hiding something.”
Hiding something? Is this guy bluffing or what? I ask myself, “why did you need to dig out such trivial stuff though?”
Walker looks over his shoulder, “because I needed to discover if you were capable enough to handle an investigation that evolves around the supernatural,” he pauses for some seconds before continuing, “or whether you are just a big mouth and will waste everyone’s time.” He glances back at me again, “so, do you have anything else to add or is there nothing more to talk about?”
I have a few questions in mind.
“What is stopping me from manipulating you to do what I asked?” I ask him while glancing at the window, looking outside as if I am thinking hard about something. Walker tilts his head curiously before answering, “while you can and hell, I can see you able to persuade me with your impressive reports of messing with other minds. I can say for sure that you won’t,” he says with confidence.
My eyes widen in surprise, “how come?” He raises an eyebrow, “because you won’t,” he states simply as if it was obvious, “I am not going to let anyone control my actions and decisions, especially when I know for certain that I am right. That I do not need to be persuaded by someone else, only myself.”
Huh, really? I can see though him, his vulnerable side and sensitive emotions underneath all the frosty exterior. However, I will just do what he says as I have nothing else to lose. Besides, I have some trust in him, but does that mean I should too? I ponder over the idea as Walker continues puffing out smoke from his cigar, “okay, fine then,” I sigh, “what exactly are we investigating here?”
He shrugs again, “that is up to you,” he answers while exhaling smoke into the air, “but this investigation would probably last for a long time,” he adds, standing up with his lit cigar in his mouth, “and you might even end up regretting your decision later.”
“Why so vague?” I ask, staring at him with curiosity. He looks down, almost as if ashamed of himself before finally speaking, “because I am not sure what exactly is going to happen next,” he replies, almost as if he was in deep thought about something.
Instead of questioning him further, I decided just to get this over and start my new job as recruit, getting off my seat, “anyway, regarding your take about that someone who is going to task me whatever case it is, who is this person you are referring to and how come I never had met him before?” The sentence makes him pause for a moment as he takes another drag from his cigar before answering, “you will see.”
I am getting tired of secrets, but I supposed I have no choice other than to keep myself patient.
“Alright, show me the way,” my voice was heavy and cold as if I did not care or wanted anything anymore. Walker grins, “right this way,” he says while walking towards a certain door, leading to the exit of the room.
What am I getting myself into?
