Chapter Four:
Chris couldn't believe it.
Peter was dead. His only brother was dead. The burial was quick... a
few friends and well-wishers came. Some officers also came to pay their
respects.
Chris sat with his parents, who were too shocked to say anything. He
watched as his mother wept, and tried to avoid his father's eyes. No one said a
word, and just the priest's voice was heard.
"A time to be born, and a time to die ... "
The sky became gloomy and dark, as though it wanted to shed tears for Peter
too. Chris didn't care about the rain or the clouds. His mind kept replaying the
words of his late brother.
"Don't you think my life will be in danger if you guys stayed
here?".
He stood up, walked to the side of the gathering, and stood to one side,
alone. No one averted their gaze from the tombstone. He watched as everyone
walked to the tombstone and dropped a white rose. His parents, well-wishers,
Susan, detective Connor, the DA, Raymond, then Jake. Jake walked to him, patted
him on the shoulder and nodded, then dropped his.
Tears dropped down Chris' cheeks. The wind blew his long blonde hair
backwards. Someone held his hand, he looked and saw Jasmine. She looked into
his blue eyes, and didn't shift her gaze as though she was searching for
something ... or someone.
"It's gonna be okay Chris, I promise"
She hugged him, dropped her rose, and soon everyone had left, except Jake.
Heavy rain drops fell on their silk suits but they kept on watching the
tombstone.
"IN BLESSED MEMORY"
PETER BARNES
1984-2017.
**************************************************************************
Two Months passed before Chris got over it. He had stayed in Jake's house
for the meantime. They were under strict surveillance, courtesy of the D.A., to
prevent any other incidents. Jasmine and Susan also got security.
Chris got better - at least he had started slapping Jake again. Today was
the day detective Connor would interrogate the thugs they brought in. Chris
wasn't called, but he was damn sure he was gonna be there.
"I just called the girls, our date is officially back on track",
Jake said.
"Do I look like I wanna go
on a date, you moron?"
"It's the best way we can keep an eye on them, you know they're
targets now"
"Fine.... but you're paying for dinner"
******************************************
Chris walked into the station, dressed casually, wearing a face cap and
carrying a baseball bat, smiling like a maniac. The guys were happy to see
Chris smiling again, even if he looked retarded while doing it. Jasmine and
Susan weren't at work today. The D.A. was out of town too, which was perfect
timing for some real ass-whooping.
Connor was in charge, this would be easy.
"Chris, what the hell are you doing with a baseball bat?", Connor
asked.
"I'm gonna interrogate that thug.... and this here", he
said holding up the bat.
"This...is gonna help me make him talk", he said, stroking
the bat.
"That's not professional Man, take it away"
"Oh Common... I'm just gonna knock him out a coupla times ... maybe
seven I dunno"
"Chris ... don't."
"You know what, Connor, you're no fun at all. Shouldn't you be out
somewhere auditioning for The Terminator or something?"
"I'm gonna let that slide because you're an idiot, drop that thing and
get in there"
"Fine"
Chris dropped the bat and got into the room with the thug. The room was
sound proof and air tight, but all they knew the thug would suffer.
"If you don't talk, I'm gonna shove your head in your ass, so that
you'll see how full of shit you are!"
"I swear I dunno anything!"
It had been thirty minutes. The thug had really been roughed up. Jake
arrived later, and joined Chris. He whispered something to his friend's ear
that made him smile.
"Alright, I'm gonna leave you in the hands of my buddy, but trust me,
you would've preferred the bat", said Chris.
Chris walked out and waited outside, while laughing.
"I had egg salad with cruciferous vegetables with a chunk of cheese
for break-fast", Jake said while putting on an oxygen mask.
"What does that have to do with anything?" The thug asked.
"Here's the fun part ... l'm lactose intolerant"
The thug's eyes widened like saucers.
"No… you wouldn't"
"Yes, I would. This gun
... is loaded", Jake said patting his belly, and flashing a smile that
gave the thug chills in his marrow.
Jake came out later and told Chris that the guy passed out. Everyone in the
station knew what happened in there. All except detective Connor. Everyone
removed their caps, and observed a minute of silence for the guy's nose. It was
a tradition everytime Jake did "The Stinker". Of course the
D.A. wouldn't be around. Or the girls.
"What the hell is going in here?", Connor said breaking the
silence.
Chris came close and whispered.
"Jake farted in his
face"
******************************************
Chris, Jake, Susan and Jasmine all went out to dinner without back up. They
were getting tired of being followed everywhere. One time a guard almost
followed Chris to the bathroom. Chris called the D.A. and told him where they
would be in case of an emergency. They arrived at 'A La Lucia', a dinner
restaurant downtown, later that same day.
They got a table and were having a fun time.
"Hey Chris, I think I need to go?' Jake whispered. His face was
squeezed up.
"Go where, you idiot?!"
"Not go, I mean GO"
"I dunno what your talking about"
"You know.... the jack in the box'
"Still confused"
"The oval office"
"Nope, don't get it"
"The freaking white House!"
"He wants to take a shit", Susan said while raising an eyebrow.
"I knew that", Chris said smiling devilishly.
Jake's cheek turned bright red, and that was weird because he was black. He
hurried to the bathroom and left the three of them alone. Jake lunged at the
toilet, but noticed someone had been following him.
******************************************
Chris was busy telling the girls many embarrassing stories about Jake, and
got them laughing hard. But their little fun night was interrupted.
"And his middle name is Mariam", Chris said laughing.
Susan didn't laugh. She smelled a rat. She began to look round
suspiciously. She noticed two guys occupied two tables alone in front. Jasmine
noticed one behind Chris, a guy with very poor dressing. Chris saw one behind
Jasmine. They knew something was wrong. And just as luck would have it...
"Everybody get down!", A voice yelled behind Chris, a guy pulled
out a rifle.
"Oh common! Gimme a break", Chris whined.
"Don't these guys ever get a hobby?", asked Jasmine, in
exasperation.
Everyone in the restaurant panicked and whimpered as they lay on the
ground. The other three guys got up with their own guns and all pointed at the
three of them. They got up and raised their hands in surrender.
A gun was fired, and a shout was heard, a manly one. It came from the
bathroom. Someone had been shot.
"Jake!!", they all shouted.
(The Case - By Edward Onuoha)
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