"And what of it?"
The little runt had a lip on him that almost made me smack the life back into his lifeless cheeks.
"If you don't tell us where Rawls is, we're gonna have a problem..." My partner, Julia, put on her patented mean mug.
"I told you, Rawls is dead. You're wasting your time looking for him here."
"Come on," I nudged Julia's arm. "Let's get out of here."
"Didn't you hear what he said?" Julia laughed once we were on the street. "He basically confirmed we're looking in the wrong place. You don't think there was more to gleam there?"
"Not without smacking some sense into the junky, no." I pulled out a cigarette and took a drag. "That last fumble was all we needed."
"Yeah?"
"Because now I know Rawls is either held hostage, or his body is being hidden at Stratford's."
"This again?" Julia did her patented exasperated sigh. "Chief, this vendetta you have against the man is unfounded. We've gone through this. There's no connection between Rawls and Mr. Stratford."
Even my own partner honors him. Pig. But Julia was right. There was no tangible connection between the victim and Stratford. But I felt it. Felt it in my gut. And after twenty years as a detective, you learn to trust your gut more than your head in these situations.
"Want me to drive you to the station?" Julia asked.
"No, uhhh, I have to pick up Katie from school."
"Chief," I turned to see her narrowed eyes staring judgingly at me. "It's Saturday." I couldn't help but smile. "Promise me!" Julia blurted. "Promise me you aren't going to Mr. Stratford's."
"I promise."
One hour later I was at the headquarters of Stratford and Stratford.
I texted my contact as I waited in the underground parking garage. This was it. I know Julia thinks only the best of me, but I can't let this go. The elevator opened to reveal Sindy. She ran to meet me with flushed cheeks and breathless gasps.
"Charles," She kissed me passionately. "you certain?"
"I am, babe," I said, holding her tight. She liked that, and while I did not care for her affection, her connections were very important in my line of work. "You think you can help me?"
"Yes, love." She squeezed my hand. "You know I'd do anything for you."
That's why I'm here. I let her lead me to the offices. We skulked through the corridors like little children. It felt embarrassing, but also liberating. I was finally going to stick it to that sun of a bitch.
Before Stratford's office, I kissed Sindy and told her I'd talk to her later. I probably wouldn't, but she'll live.
The office itself was empty. Spacious and pretentious, but empty. Perfect. I started snooping around for any leads that can incriminate the scum to the victim. I found a keylogger in one of the desk drawers and went to open his laptop to search his files for any -
"Isn't this childish, Chuck?" There he was, at the entrance of the office. Smug with arms crossed - Stratford. "Committing crimes now as well are we?"
I exhaled and stood from the computer. "Only if it means you behind bars."
"Who was it? Hmmm? Martha? No. I know. Sindy, right? Yes, well I was planning on replacing that her anyway. Better now that I know she's a source for the enemy."
Stratford moved to sit opposite me on one of the chairs decorating his office. It was as if I was the CEO and he was the claimant. He always did this, always played mind tricks on me.
"You have always obsessed over me, Charles." The prick said nonchalantly.
"You!" I pointed at him with vitreal. "You dare be so flippant with me? Need I remind you what you've done to me? To my life?"
"Chuck," the bastard showed his palms in mock sincerity. "I have told you constantly, I had nothing to do with your wife's disappearance. You yourself did the case and found nothing."
'That's because you manipulate and lie and -"
"Or, I am innocent? That is also a possibility."
The memories came flooding like pictures on a string. The bullying, the laughing, the jealousy. I've known this man my entire life and, and, and...
"You've always used me as your scapegoat, Chuck." The scum places his hand on my shoulder. "It's time to let go, eh?" Security entered the room but Stratford held his hand up. "It's ok, the gentleman was leaving anyway. Weren't you, Chuck?"
I just nodded, what was I even hoping to achieve by coming here? I seriously need to lay off the booze. Get my life together -
"Chuck!" Stratford threw an old notebook, I bought it. "Skim through those pages, take yourself back on memory lane. Who knows what you might find."
Back home I emptied my third glass of scotch as I looked through the notebook. I remember the pages, it was one me and the bastard filled in together. Drawings, jokes, exam results. I knew what the bastard was doing, he was trying to play on my sympathy. Trying to make me forget...
No. It was me. I understood that now. I need to let it off. Need to focus on -
I turned to the last page of the notebook and the message therein. In clear blue letters:
"It was me."
This is the first draft of the story. Written by Jovan Gjorgjiev, ©️ 2023.
Obligatory shout-out to the 🍕PIZZA🍕 gang, 🤙 gang. 🤙
Chuck is not the most sympathetic character I know. I tried to give him negative traits intentionally to play around with making complex characters. It's a tricky line to cross because the more you make a character an @$$hole the harder it is for the reader to connect with them. I think I did an ok job here, but even still it felt uneasy.
More practice! More!
Cover image source.
I hope you have a fantastic day! 🙌
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