INSOMNIAC: ALAN SMITH #2 (Alan Smith series) (13 page)

‘Oh, that’s great man. Good job’ Ryan remarked again as the tall man smiled for the last time and walked straight past them. They looked at his back for some time until the alleyway bended and he vanished.

After sometime, Ryan said ‘Great man, isn’t he?’

‘Nothing great’ said Alicia ‘More awkward’

‘Okay, I am gonna lie here while you guys will chat and pass time, right?’ Henry yelled for the third time.

‘Shut up, Henry’ said Alicia as she turned to Ryan ‘I don’t think he will be able to walk for sometime’

‘Right, we need a stretcher maybe?’

Alicia took out her phone and dialled a number. ‘Let’s call an ambulance then’

‘No no no’ Henry said ‘I don’t need any stretcher or anything. I’m fine .I’m fine’

Kevin muttered ‘If you’re fine then why don’t you try standing up?’

He tried as Kevin suggested but fell back again. ‘It’s just a muscle pull, I think .I will be able to stand but I need some support’

‘Fair enough’ said Alicia and kept the mobile back in her pocket ‘If he says he can stand then, fine. Ryan, Kevin, you two just hold him and see if you can make him walk a few metres ,I will go and see where we left our car. You just bring him at the edge of the alleyway. Okay?’

‘Got it’ said Kevin. Alicia left them as they both stooped down, gripped Henry’s shoulder and tried to pull him up. It was tough at first but they managed it anyway.

SIXTEEN

It was half past 1 in the noon when they came back to precinct. When they went inside, the main lobby was nearly empty , so was the first floor of the department which usually overflows with people .It was officially the lunch time so most of the officers and uniforms were out for some fun, eating, except those who had something damn important to do just like them.

They sat on the chairs in the main lawn at the right corner as it was empty so not much people would bother them around and it was near to the air conditioner. They had to prevent themselves from a getting heat stroke.

There was a coffee and a cold drinks machine nearby but Alicia preferred water to coffee while Ryan and Kevin helped themselves with a can of diet coke.

They made Henry sit on the sofa, the only sofa that was available there, some officers came and went looking at them as Ryan, Kevin and Alicia made themselves comfortable sitting directly under the AC.

Ryan suddenly noticed Luke, pouring himself coffee from the coffee machine as Ryan called him.

‘Hey Luke’

‘Wassup man?’ he answered bringing the cup with him.

‘Come here’ Ryan said.

He walked to them and said ‘Man, you all look like you’ve ran a thousand miles under the sun, making you all tired and exhausted.’

‘You would not believe us’ said Ryan ‘But that’s exactly what happened.’

‘Really?’

‘Yeah...okay I need you to help us with something’

‘What...hey look man I’m really hungry and I’m going out for some snacks .I really can’t...’

Ryan cut him short ‘Just listen. Look at that man’ he said pointing at Henry Roberts.

‘Who the hell is he?’

‘He is one of our suspect and the one that made us run a thousand miles....well he is a little injured you might say, so I want you take him to a hospital or anywhere possible and see what happened to his legs’

‘But—’

‘See if you can’t do it then find Trevor, I think he’s off duty now’

Luke shrugged and said ‘Alright I will see what I can do’

He went over to Henry Roberts and said ‘Get up man; we are goin’ to have some fun outside.’

‘I can’t walk’

‘I will hold you, come on’

‘I’m fine. Just leave me’

‘Nope, you’re not fine, see......there you’re limping’

After Luke took him out, Alicia stood up and said ‘Okay I think we should get back to work now’

‘Aren’t you tired?’ Ryan asked her surprised.

‘I’m. But work is more important’ said Alicia and walked to the elevator area and clicked a switch. ‘Come on; let’s see if Henderson got anything on Paul Brown for us’

‘Yeah’ said Ryan ‘From where does she get so much energy?’

‘No idea’ Kevin replied as they joined her in the lift. The lift went up just to pause at the respective floor .The door opened, Alicia was the first to move inside, and Ryan and Kevin went in.

Alicia went near the white board and started reading the summaries again just to see if there was any clues left in there , unnoticed . There was a picture of Henry Roberts, Paul Brown and Jade Carter, their original victim with a lot of descriptions written below them. He wrote the letter ‘Found’ ,crossing out the 'missing' word below Henry Roberts picture.

Some more officers filled in the area, some drinking coffee, she thought how they could drink coffee in this weather? It’s too unhealthy for health.

‘Hey man,’ Ryan just found Trevor sitting alone at one corner and typing something rapidly in his computer. ‘I thought you’re off duty’

‘Not a chance’ said Trevor in a tired voice ‘Still got some files to check out. I am all packed up’

‘I see’

‘Yeah desk job. Boring as ever’ he said removing his eyes only once from the computer just to look at the keyboard.

‘At least you’re getting to sit in a AC room’ said Kevin ‘You’ve no idea how hot it is  outside .And we had to run some miles in the sun chasing a suspect .Can you believe it?’

‘Not too good’ said Trevor with a gloomy face ‘I know how it is outside because I can feel it myself. And just to keep you informed, the AC of this floor is out of service’

Ryan and Kevin soon realised that he was right, the ceiling fans were on but they were hardly of any help. It was too hot here, too.

‘Damn!’ muttered Ryan.

‘Hey guys’ Alicia called them.

Ryan and Kevin turned back to her table.

‘What, you got somethin’?’ asked Kevin.

‘No’

‘Then what?’

‘But I found something on someone else’ she said.

‘Yeah, what is it?’

‘Look’ She showed them Henderson’s room.

Henderson was talking to someone quite happily but that man’s back was facing them through the blinds so they couldn’t see his face.

‘Who’s he?’ asked Ryan.

The guy wore a black pullover and rusty black trousers.

‘I can’t say that I have seen anyone like that man in this department before’ said Alicia not moving her eyes from Henderson’s room.

‘You’re right. Me too’ said Kevin.

It seemed like the man was now telling him some facts or maybe a story and Henderson was listening to him patiently throwing an occasional laugh or sometimes a gesture, seriousness in the middle.

‘Whoever it is, Mr. Henderson knows him’ said Alicia. ‘Look he’s talking like they are some old friends.’

‘Yeah, I can see that’ said Kevin. ‘Let me go and check’

‘No, just see what he does. He would eventually have to come out’ said Alicia.

‘Then maybe it’s true about what we think’ said Ryan. ‘He is indeed a friend’

‘Then it got to be a new friend’ said Kevin. ‘I know most of Mr. Henderson’s friend or families, I don’t recall anyone who looks like this’

‘Newly recruited officer maybe?’ Ryan tried another suggestion.

But Kevin denied again. ‘Can’t you see, he’s talking to him like he had known him for years. If he was really a new recruited officer, then Henderson would have been more professional with him’

‘Hmm’ Ryan leaned on the chair stroking his chin.

Alicia remained quiet and watched; she didn’t want to make any improbable suggestions like them.

Kevin asked ‘What do ya’ think?’

She didn’t say first, she had to make up her mind about this. Then she copied Ryan’s style of standing and said ‘He’s tall isn’t he?’

‘Yeah’ Ryan replied absent-mindedly.

‘And he’s wearing the same pull over’

‘Yeah...wait what?’

‘See the pull overcoat he’s wearing. Doesn’t it look like the same one that the man in the streets wore?’

Ryan’s head was blank so he had to think for a moment before saying ‘The guy who stopped our suspect?’

‘Yes’

‘Right...he’s tall...slim physique...it got to be the same man’

‘Oh come one’ said Kevin ‘How’s that even possible? Why the hell would that man be here?’

‘No idea about that.’

‘Maybe he’s....’ Ryan trailed off because he failed to make his mind about what to say.

‘The figure, the dusty coat, everything matches’ said Ryan ‘it is him, no doubt. But why would he be here is the main question’

‘Just wait, maybe Henderson will introduce him to us’

Some more minutes passed as Henderson and that man still talked. The next minute Henderson signalled him about something and then showed him the door as if the man doesn’t know where to go, or maybe blind.

They were actually coming out. Alicia quickly stared away at the board and pinched Ryan, which made him jump on his chair and look at the computer.

‘Act like we were busy’ said Alicia.

Kevin had nothing to do, so he just focused on some trash files.

Now they could hear their talk as they came out. ‘Let me introduce you to others here’ he said to the man.

Alicia still looked at the board and Ryan typed on the computer more rapidly as they came. No one could tell that they were all standing idly talking among them about the man, a few minutes before.

‘Hey Ryan Alicia, Kevin, Trevor you too...who else is here?’ said Henderson.

‘What?’ said Ryan not looking at him.

‘Anyway I want you guys to meet someone .Come here ya’ll’ he said to them.

Ryan now left the computer and faced Henderson, others including Trevor who was still doing his desk job did the same.

‘Look here’ said Henderson. ‘This is Alan Smith’.

They all looked at Alan Smith not saying anything. It was the same man they met in the alleyway, same tall slim figure, white face, wrist full of bones and veins, all the same .And they were right about the pullover too, it was the same.

His face was narrow, rigid and emotionless .Only a slight tinge of smile, or maybe smartness...whatever it was, it could be seen attached to his face. His hands were tough and had some muscles and they were like thin cord. He had blue mesmerizing eyes and if you look directly at his eyes for some time, you’re bound to hallucinate. His face was white and fresh not red like others who just came back from the sun. Or those who sat in a AC less room.

‘So you are the one we met in the alleyway, aren’t you?’ asked Alicia without even saying hello.

‘Yes’ he answered in one word.

‘Oh...so you have met before?’ Henderson looked disappointed; perhaps he thought it would be a complete surprise to them.

‘Yeah’ said Ryan ‘We met this guy today in the streets...he was the one who stopped our suspect. He was really helpful I must add’ said Ryan.

‘So there’s no need to introduce, I see’ said Henderson. ‘You know each other then.’

‘But what is he doing here?’ asked Alicia.

‘I thought you knew...’

‘We just met, that’s all. We haven’t even talked’

‘Okay,’ Henderson replied ‘So this is Alan Smith. Former NYPD homicide detective, of 13
th
Precinct, that means our department of course' And Henderson turned to him ‘This is Alicia Quinn, now leading the homicide team. And the other detectives Kevin Connelly and Ryan Raglan’

‘Hello’ Alicia just said that and stopped. But Alan didn’t respond to this.

‘But then why haven’t we seen him before?’

‘Because he was not in New York for the past two years’ said Henderson ‘Come let’s have a sit first’

Alicia sat on the chair but Kevin and Ryan chose to stand. So Alicia stood up too. Henderson didn’t say anything more as everyone refused to sit. ‘Well he was in Washington’ Henderson continued, making sure everyone had interest in listening to him ‘He was working with the FBI. Investigating a murder of an agent, that also involved our NYPD division, that’s why they wanted someone who knows much more about the NYPD side. So they came to ask for someone...a detective who could help them with the case, and I had only one choice in my mind .So anyway he had to leave temporarily’

‘And now he’s back?’ added Ryan.

‘Oh yes, he’s back’

Henderson smiled and turned to Alan who just shrugged. ‘So gentlemen, you were just introduced to one of the finest detectives of New York, and the best in our 13
th
Precinct’

Alicia turned her face away, it was red. Her face only showed one sentence ‘Who gives a damn!’ so did Kevin. Only Ryan was interested. He said ‘Hello Sir’ willing to shake hands.

‘Let me also say’ continued Henderson with the same proud voice ‘He’s quite senior to all of you here, remember that .He previously served for more than fifteen years at a stretch in this department, so you see he’s all too experienced and that’s why I am letting him take the lead of the ongoing homicide case’