INSOMNIAC: ALAN SMITH #2 (Alan Smith series) (17 page)

Ryan raised his voice a little ‘Just admit it that you were in the car’

‘How did you find me?’ Henry asked back to him.

‘Nice tattoo Henry’ admired Ryan.

‘Oh really?’

‘Yep, that’s how we found you’

Henry frowned and thought about why on earth did he make this tattoo in the first place.

‘We are waiting Henry’ said Alan. He was aware that time was passing away.

‘Does your brother have a contact number?’ said Ryan.

‘Maybe’

‘You don’t know it, right?’

‘Nope’

‘You have became quite predictable, I see’

‘I like being predictable, it makes it easy for others to understand me’

‘I hope so’ said Alan.

‘What’s his name?’ asked Ryan.

‘Whose?’

‘Your brother, the one in UK’

‘Ronald’

‘Ronald Roberts?’

‘Yes’

‘Thank you for the least information you gave us’ said Alan ‘We’ll see’

Alicia was ready, as soon as she heard the name she strolled towards the nearest servers and started connecting the servers to the computers in order to get an ID on this man Ronald Roberts, if this man ever existed.

She entered the name and browsed the whole database while the remaining portion at the end was still loading. She checked all the names starting with an ‘R’ and scrolled it down looking at the pictures and faces. At the end, she narrowed it down to two persons.

Kevin was there too, behind her, checking the pictures and the names in their database.

‘Okay so I got two Ronald Roberts here’ said Alicia after making sure she wasn’t missing out anything.

‘Well...’

‘I don’t know if anyone of these dudes might be his brother’

‘I would prefer the black one as he is himself black’

‘Good idea, still we’ve to be certain about it’

‘One minute’ Kevin asked Alicia to wait and he went inside the interrogation.

‘So you’re back, eh?’ Henry laughed seeing him.

Kevin ignored him and said to Ryan softly. ‘Outside, for a minute’

Ryan and nodded and followed him out.

‘Found something?’ asked Ryan.

‘We did’ said Alicia ‘More than one actually’

Ryan stood behind Alicia and looked at the screen.

‘Ronald Roberts’ Ryan repeated.

‘Yeah, we got two Ronald Roberts here, so which one do you think is our guy?’

‘Not sure’ said Ryan. ‘We got to check on them both. Do we have an ID on them?’

‘Trying to get one’

‘Okay just inform us when you get a hit’ said Ryan and went back to the interrogation.

‘You look quite confident detective’ said Henry as Ryan took his seat.

Ryan stared away promising to himself that his attitude or behaviour would not irritate him.

Ryan poked behind Alan and made a sign with his hand by which Alan understood something .He stood up and very silently said ‘What?’

‘We got something’ he said softly just like Alan did.

Alan nodded.

‘You might wanna come out first’

‘Yes?’ Alan spoke more freely as they came out of the room as the suspect could not see them or hear them.

‘We got two hits’ Ryan informed him.

‘About what?’

‘Ronald Roberts’

‘Is this name valid?’

‘Perhaps’

‘Okay let’s see’ Alan moved towards Alicia, which made her a little uneasy.

Alicia showed him both the names and the pictures as he looked at them and the information available .He could not make out if it was the right man or not.

‘Only two?’ said Alan. ‘Good’

‘So which one do you think is the one?’ asked Ryan.

‘We should check on both of them, I guess’

‘Is he willing to say anything more?’

‘Not really. And what’s the use? He will probably make a story even if he says something. We’re not getting the truth anyway’

‘Do we have a location of the man?’ asked Ryan.

‘No, but I’m trying to track the remaining bio-data and other details, it’s still in process’ replied Alicia.

‘And I don’t think there’s any need to question him again as of now, because I’m sure he’ll not answer anything more. So we better not waste our energy on him’ said Alan.

‘Yeah that douche is just playin’ with us’ said Kevin.

‘That’s what I’m saying’ said Alan in a much calmer tone. ‘He is just playing with us. So if we need any more information about anything, we'd have to find it ourselves, so we should not expect any help from him’

‘But what if both the names are fake?’ asked Ryan. ‘If the name he gave us is not a real name? Then what? More time will get wasted’

‘Yeah it’ll be’ said Alan ‘But we don’t have a choice. We will just have to pursue the leads we have at present, unless we hit a dead end. Anyway, I also noticed something else’

‘What is it?’ Ryan’s voice was eager.

‘I noticed some dark patch in his pants.’

‘Dark patch?’

‘Yeah, looked like some sort of lubricant....’ said Alan and thought for other options. ‘Petrol is also considerable. But I’m sure it got to be some car lubricant’

‘Then maybe he works in a car manufacturing factory?’

‘Or even a garage’

‘But what if’ Alicia started showing other reasons ‘he visited a garage for some reasons and from there somehow he got the stain?’

‘Tell me something’ Alan said softly. ‘But first apply your brains. Why would he visit a car manufacturing company or a garage if he doesn’t have a car himself?’

‘Unless he works there itself’ completed Ryan as Alicia was quiet.

‘True, but how about a bike?’ Kevin said.

‘Bike maybe. But you can get a bike from anywhere’ said Ryan. ‘But we can consider that’

‘Okay, do you wanna wait or take another shot at him?’ asked Kevin.

‘I don’t think it’s worth it’ said Alan. ‘He promised himself for some reason that he’s not gonna say anything true and that’s what he will do anyway.’

‘There must be something going on with him’ said Ryan staring at the computer.

‘With him?’ asked Alicia.

‘Yeah, something is wrong’ he said ‘If you look at the proceedings carefully then you’ll see that there are thousands of things involving Henry which are suspicious’

‘Like what?’ asked Kevin.

‘Like what?’ Ryan repeated making a face as if ‘How can you even say that?’

‘Why did he run away the first time we talked to him’ said Ryan ‘When he understood we’re cops, he tried to escape, and panic? Not a great reason. And you see he’ll not say why or when he was in our Vic’s car’

‘Yes they are some quite suspicious points’ Alan agreed.

‘He must be guilty about something’ said Kevin ‘Maybe murder, maybe something else. We just have to find that out’

‘Whatever it is, we will surely find that out’ said Alan and sat across the computer screen so that he could see from there. The screen showed a buffer sign, it means its loading and the loading was only thirty percent complete.

‘How much more time is needed?’ he asked Alicia.

Alicia kept one of the hands on the mouse moving it sideways. ‘It will not take more than twenty minutes, Mr. Smith’

Kevin glanced inside and said ‘Just look at his face.’ He growled. ‘I could just punch him and smack his head against the wall’

‘Anybody would have wanted to do that’ approved Ryan.

‘Be careful, he’s quite strong and he might even be our killer. So you don’t wanna hurt him just like that. We should keep him in one piece.’ Alan declared.

‘Who the fuck cares’ said Kevin and turned his back from to room.

Ryan looked at his watch again and saw it was already 3 pm. ‘Guys anybody hungry here? ‘cause I’m starving’

They soon realised they haven’t ate anything till the bed tea, or a cup of coffee maybe. No breakfast, nothing. Now even the lunch time was over.

‘Who’s up for some food?’ asked Ryan.

‘Uh...I’m in’ said Kevin.

‘All right. I’m famished’ said Alan.

‘Alicia, what about you?’ asked Ryan. ‘You wanna join us?’

‘No, I will pass. I have some food with me’

‘Okay then, just give me a message when you get the location’ said Ryan.

Alicia nodded.

‘Let’s go’ said Kevin and reached for the half open elevator door.

NINETEEN

    As they stepped outside some dry winds and an unimaginable heat greeted them. People walking in the streets had handkerchief over their mouths to save themselves from the dusty hot winds and the germs that were in it.

They quickly wore their shades, which helped to reflect the light and protect their eyes.

‘Terrible heat’ said Kevin.

Ryan took his car and drove it to the East 20
th
street. The road was clear and it was near the department so it didn’t take much time.

‘Gramercy Tavern? It’s a luxurious restaurant’ said Alan. ‘You could have chosen something less specious’

‘There’s not much restaurant near here’ said Ryan.

They entered the restaurant and the first thing that they felt relieved about was that the AC was on and it was cool. They even considered at that moment, not coming out ever again.

There were also delicious dishes all around with smells that were enchanting.

They took the corner table near the window and sat down. They chose it because it was near to the door and they could certainly rush outside if they need to. The other people stared at them awkwardly as they were in their suits and normal people thought they must be some agents.

Kevin drank the completely cold water bottle that was kept on every table with some stylish spoons, napkins and other things.

Alan looked at the menu card and found that most of the dishes were costly.

Alan gave the menu card to Ryan as he ordered some Cheese kielbasa, Rye Spaetzle and Sauerkraut .Kevin also ordered some mushroom lasagne with spinach and pine nuts. It was an inappropriate dish for someone who would go out running in the sun again. But still they wanted to do justice to their taste buds.

The waiter brought the dishes soon and asked them. ‘Anything for dessert, Sir?’

‘No, this would be more than enough. Thank you’ said Ryan as the waiter went away. He took a bite soon and said ‘It’s good isn’t it?’

Kevin took off the sunglasses and said ‘Yeah’

Alan didn’t eat much, he looked outside and at others and just ate two spoonfuls of Rye spaetzle and the pine nuts. He didn’t want to stuff himself up with these foods, it will be really unhealthy.

‘Can I taste the mushroom a little?’ asked Kevin.

‘Sure, I’m already full. I’m not sure how we will eat the remaining foods.’

‘Too good. If you’re full then give it to me’

‘Who says I will not give you. Take the cheese’

They ate as they have never eaten before.

Alan was not interested in foods. He said ‘We better hurry okay? We got to find our man’

‘Right. Just wait. Alicia will inform us soon’ said Ryan with his half mouth, full of cheese and lasagne.

‘Great, then’

‘Are you feeling tired, Kevin?’ asked Ryan.

‘Why do you ask?’

‘You look tired’

‘Man, isn’t it natural?’

‘Hey Mr. Smith’ said Ryan suddenly.

‘It’s just Alan’ he corrected again.

‘Okay, tell us a little about yourself’

‘What should I say?’

‘Your past life?’

‘My past life?

‘Yeah’

‘I don’t live in past anymore’

‘Still?’

‘My past was with precinct and my present too’ said Alan. ‘So there’s not much to say about it’

‘Okay’ said Ryan. ‘What did you use to do before you joined the precinct?’

‘Nothing’

‘Nothing?’

‘Yeah, just a jobless teenager’

‘Oh...Then you started serving in the homicide, right?’

‘No, as a junior officer at the 28
th
precinct’

‘What about you?’

‘I was a patrol cop’ replied Ryan.

‘Me too’ Said Kevin gleefully. ‘We’re both partners from the school till now...’