by S. E. Meyer
Jack was always making jokes about his missing leg, and regardless of the morning's events, Anna couldn't hold back the smirk that forced its way to her lips.
“What's going on, sir?” Charlie asked.
“The Lone Wolf is blowing up my city, that's what's going on. And he had help. He was talking to someone on the phone, and then minutes later the 605 apartment building exploded. Our street level sensors show a proximity detonator, carried by whoever he was talking to, activated it. We're downloading the surveillance video from the street cameras now, along with the feeds from the surrounding buildings. We’ll find out who his accomplice was in a few minutes.”
Anna‘s poker face fooled her distracted boss, but Charlie noticed Anna's body language. “Sir?” Anna said, deciding how to explain herself.
Anna clenched her jaw while fidgeting with her jacket. “Sir, I have something I have to tell-”
“Save it, I have to go,” The Captain interrupted, then headed down the hall away from them. He turned for a moment and pointed at Anna. “Have that head wound looked at Wool,” he said before disappearing around the corner.
“Okay, what's up?” Charlie asked once the Captain was out of earshot. He turned to face her.
“Nothing.” Anna touched her forehead, feeling the sticky ooze between her eyebrows.
“I know you better than that. You forget. I know you better than you know yourself sometimes.”
Anna took a deep breath.
I can't tell him what's going on, not until I have time to talk to the Captain.
“It’s my mother, but we can talk more about it later,” Anna replied. That wasn't a complete lie.
“I have to get to the restroom and clean myself up.”
“Is that what's bothering you this morning?” Charlie frowned. “Your mom's trail went cold a long time ago. Stop investigating every case like it has something to do with her murder. It's not healthy to keep chasing after leads that aren't there.”
Anna let Charlie's suggestions bounce off her as she peered across the room. “Oh, shit. What is he doing here?”
Charlie turned toward Anna. “Who? Richard? He got here before you did. Said he was here to see you.”
“Make him go away,” Anna pleaded.
“One doesn't make Richard go away,” Charlie replied as Anna ducked behind him. Richard looked away from the receptionist he was flirting with and made eye contact with Anna.
Great, now he'll never go away, she thought.
Richard turned back to the receptionist and winked before making his way straight toward her and Charlie.
Richard Brockman was the perfect specimen of a gorgeous man, Anna supposed. He was tall and muscular with a head of perfect midnight-black hair. A matching black goatee and well-trimmed mustache accented his strong jawline. His thin nose sat below a pair of handsome, crisp blue eyes.
He had everything a woman would want in a man. Along with his looks, he was always well dressed. He was funny, charming, and confident. He stole the room with an air of self-assured swagger, which most men could only hope to achieve. And he was rich, or his family was. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he never saw a hard day's work in his life.
“I hate him,” Anna breathed.
“I don't like him either, but we have to play nice because of who he is.”
“After what he did to Billy?” Anna shook her head. “I don't play nice.”
“His father is the chief of City Security, and his grandfather is the Governor.”
“I don't care who he is, who his father is, or who his grandfather is.”
Anna stared into Charlie's eyes. “I don‘t hate him, Charlie, I loathe him.”
Anna trembled.
She wasn't sure if it was the adrenaline crash or the pain in her forehead that was making her shake.
Most likely Richard making my blood boil, she concluded with flushed cheeks. “Loathe, I loathe that man.”
“Based on what happened, who could blame you?”
Anna watched as Richard strutted towards her, an enormous bouquet in his right arm and a bright smile across his exquisite face.
Brought me flowers again.
“Disgusting.”
Richard continued to stare at her as he walked across the room. Not paying attention to where his feet were going, he bumped into a desk, lost his footing, and almost tripped, but caught himself.
Pity.
As he neared her, Richard's gaze drifted to her forehead. “Anna, what happened?”
Anna looked away.
“Well, even with blood on your brow, you're still the most beautiful woman in the city. Here, these are for you,” Richard said, extending the bouquet towards her.
“I don't want them.”
“Can we talk?” Richard pleaded, still holding the arrangement towards her.
“No.”
“We need to talk,” Richard demanded.
Anna let out a long sigh that ended in a groan of disgust. “Fine.” She turned toward Charlie. “Can you give us a minute?” she asked and then led Richard into her office.
Anna sat down behind her desk as Richard closed the door. He placed the flowers on a small table in the room's corner, then sat down in one of two chairs facing her.
“So what do you want?” Anna asked.
“Anna, Anna, Anna,” Richard cooed. “You know what I want more than anything in the world. What I've always wanted. I want to get married.”
“Who's the unlucky girl?” Anna spat.
Richard smiled.
How many times can one guy propose?
Anna rolled her eyes. “You realize that will never happen, right? I mean, never. So save your breath and save your presents, notes, letters, chocolates, and flowers.” she pointed at the vase on the corner table. “Save it, Richard. I will never marry you.”
Richard leaned back in his chair and placed his groomed hands behind his head. “I think you might change your mind this time.”
Anna scoffed at the notion and then shook her head. “I won't.” she replied, sitting up straight as a board with her hands on the desk in front of her.
“Once you hear what I have to say, you might.” Richard placed his hands in front of him as he leaned in towards Anna. “You have been a very busy girl this morning. You've gotten yourself into trouble.”
“How the hell did you find out about that already?”
“I'm well connected. That's why I'm here.” Richard rotated his wrist and glanced at his gold Rolex watch. “In a few minutes you will lose your job.” He paused a moment to make eye contact with Anna. “I can prevent that from happening.”
“Let me guess. I agree to marry you and I get to keep my job? Is that the offer on the table here?”
Really? This guy is a piece of work.
“Yes,” he replied.
A twinge of nausea crept up Anna’s neck, burning the back of her throat. “I don't think I’ll lose my job. I can explain everything.”
“Explain? Are you kidding? They caught you aiding a fugitive. I mean, for God's sake, you blew up an entire building.”
“I didn't blow up anything, and there's no way you could have that information without being involved,” Anna protested.
Richard ignored her and continued. “No, there is no doubt, you will lose your job today. Unless...” he trailed off.
“You would want to marry someone that hates you?”
“You could learn to love me.”
Impossible.
“Job or not, I will never marry you, Richard. I would rather be unemployed than have you for a husband.” Anna stood up and waved a finger in Richard's direction. “I would rather they send me through the wall. I would rather die!” Anna yelled.
“Fine, have it your way,” Richard replied as he stood up to face her at eye level. He turned to leave and then stopped with his hand on the doorknob. “What is this all about Anna? Are you still sore about Billy?”
“You son of a bitch! Get the hell out of my offi
ce!” Anna screamed. Richard opened the door and made a hasty retreat. Anna ran after him, picking up the vase of flowers as she followed him through the doorway. “And take these with you.” Richard stopped to turn around as Anna reached up and poured the contents of the vase over his head. The water mussed his perfect hair as it ran in a torrent down his face and off his chin, splashing onto his thousand-dollar shoes. The bundle of flora landed between his toes in a heap, except for one lonesome daisy that got stuck behind his ear.
“What the hell are you doing, Wool?” the Captain roared. He was standing outside her office and had witnessed the outburst.
“Don't worry about it Jack,” Richard said as he plucked a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face. “The girl will learn that her actions have consequences soon enough.”
Anna smirked at the sight of the rich boy with flowers in his hair, further infuriating the Captain.
“Wool, get in my office. Now!,” he yelled through reddened jowls, grabbing her by the arm and leading her away from the scene.
Anna watched Richard from over her shoulder as they walked to her boss's office. She noticed Richard nod at two men who were standing a few paces away from Anna's office door. They wore dark-colored suits and had ID badges hanging around their necks that dangled in front of pressed ties.
Great, now the feds are here.
As the two men followed her, Anna turned and made eye contact with Jack. He spoke before Anna could say anything.
“You're young, Anna, but someday you will have to learn how to eat a plate of shit and smile, pretending it was the most delicious meal you've ever eaten and convey disappointment when there isn't a second helping.”
“I can't do that, sir.”
“With people like Richard you must learn,” her boss continued as they made their way into his office. He closed the door.
“His father practically funds this department and the entire police force. Additional weapons, SWAT vehicles, you name it. He even pays for the damn coffee to get flown in from South America.” Jack raised a bushy eyebrow. “Do you realize how expensive coffee is Anna?”
“Yes, and that's the problem with this department, if you don't mind me being candid, sir. Too much back scratching fosters a dangerous environment of quid pro quo. Who's running this place? Him or you?”
“This is what I'm talking about. Speaking without a filter is dangerous. For you and your career.”
“I am, who I am. I tell it like it is. I don't beat around the bush and I don't pretend that I'm something, or someone, I'm not. This isn't about the price of coffee, or about Richard. What's going on?” she asked.
Jack sat down in a chair at the end of a small meeting table tucked into the corner of the room. While letting out a sigh, he rubbed the place where his thigh met his prosthesis. He leaned over, placing his right hand under his chin, and looked into Anna's eyes. “You tell me, Anna? Do you have any idea the spot you've put me in here? I mean hell, you were in contact with the Lone Wolf and never even bothered to mention it?”
“I tried to-”
A knock at the door interrupted Anna.
“You know who those men are? They're from Homeland Security.”
“What do they want?” Anna asked.
“They want your ass in jail, awaiting a decision to send you through the wall for terrorism, that's what they want.”
“That's ridiculous, sir, I had nothing to do with the explosion,” Anna argued.
The Captain stood up and opened the door. “Come on in, gentleman.”
The two men entered the office and sat down across from the Captain.
“Have a seat, Miss Wool,” the man on her right said. Anna could tell by the tone in his heavy voice it was a demand and not a request. He was the taller of the two men and was holding a briefcase.
Anna walked around to the other end of the table and flopped down in one of the empty chairs. She eyed the agent who had spoken.
He was slim, from his narrow shoes to his thin pursed lips that sat below a long-bladed nose. His eyes were piercing and full of purpose.
Or was it pompous? Anna thought.
“You've had a busy day,” the other agent said as the taller man pulled several files from his briefcase and set them on the table.
Anna ignored the quiet one. He wasn't in charge.
“Let me introduce myself,” the man with the paperwork said. “My name is Agent James Woods, and this is Agent James Fischer.”
Woods opened the file in front of him and then stared Anna down for several seconds before continuing. “You have quite a remarkable record here,” he said, then dropped his gaze to the pages in front of him. “You graduated high school at fifteen, top of your class and one year before your peers. Then, one year of police science and detective study. Once again, top of your class.” Woods took a deep breath while the other Jim drummed his fingers.
Anna squinted in contempt, but maintained eye contact with Woods.
“Two years as a police officer while simultaneously serving in the army reserves, where you received combat training. Passed your detective examinations with some of the highest points on record, and now you have been in this department for almost two years. All with an exemplary record. You hold high level black belt degrees in four different styles of martial arts.” Woods paused, tapping his filed index fingernail on the table. He continued in a matter-of-fact tone with a slow and steady pace. “You're current on your treatments. You pay your bills. You pay your taxes. You even take your Aunt Delores to church on Sunday mornings.”
Anna continued her unwavering eye contact with Woods.
Sherlock did his homework.
Woods slid a file in front of Anna and flipped it open. “A transcript of your conversation with a wanted criminal this morning. I was hoping you could shed light on why such an upstanding young citizen like yourself would help a fugitive of the law.” Woods leaned in, placing his hands together as though in prayer with both index fingers touching his lower lip. “Tell me, Miss Wool, what is your relationship with the man who calls himself the Lone Wolf?”
There was a long pause. Woods showed his impatience by lifting an eyebrow and cocking his head to one side.
“There is no relationship,” Anna responded. “This morning was the first time I've ever spoken to the Lone Wolf, and I didn‘t understand who I was speaking to until I left the scene.”
“Fled the scene, by the account of the citizen whose car you stole.” Woods leaned back in his chair. “Well then Miss Wool, maybe you could help us out and give us the detonator you used this morning to level the apartment building.”
Anna reached into her pocket where she stashed the computer drive. “Gladly, but this thing isn't a detonator, it's a smart drive,” she said and then froze.
Where the hell is it? Anna checked her other pockets. “I...I... don't have it. It's gone,” she stammered.
Woods turned towards the Captain. “Jack.” He paused. “You don't mind if I call you Jack, do you?” Not waiting for a reply, the agent continued. “If your detective won‘t cooperate, we will have to arrest her.”
“Anna, if you have what these men want, give it to them,” the Captain pleaded.
“I don't have it!” Anna repeated through clenched jaws. “Why is it so important to you?”
“Let me read back the transcript, Miss Wool,” Woods said as he slid the file back in front of himself.
“Ah, yes, here it is. 'Okay, got it, now what?' Those are your words, correct? I can playback the actual audio if you have doubts.”
“How did you get my entire conversation? Are you monitoring my phone?”
“Miss Wool, if you continue to answer every question with a question, this will take a very long time.” Woods paused, not breaking eye contact with Anna.
“Yes, well, I had it. It was in my jacket and now it's gone. It must have fallen out of my pocket while I was defending myself from almost half a dozen men this morning. The men you should investigate the i
dentities of, instead of wasting time here with me.” Anna shook her head and then raised her hands in the air before continuing. “I have no clue what happened to it, okay?” Anna crossed her arms and slouched back into her chair.
“Miss Wool. The potential charges against you are serious. Crimes that fall under the Terrorism Act. Plus, you destroyed government property when you crashed your car. Then you topped it off by killing several men, not to mention tampering with a crime scene and mutilating a corpse. You've caused death, destruction, mayhem, and millions of dollars worth of damage before most people have finished eating their breakfast bagel. Quite a morning,” Woods explained.
Anna's face reddened. “You do not understand the day I've had!” She uncrossed her arms and leaned forward in her chair. “I already explained it to you, those men attacked me, so it was self defense.” Anna hammered her index finger into the antique walnut table's six coats of varnish with each word. “Have you checked into them? Who are they? What were they doing there? Lethal force was justified, they killed a cop. And I didn't crash my car. Someone intentionally drove their car into mine. Someone needs to look into why the auto collision avoidance system failed. On both cars.”
Anna cocked her head, squinting her eyes into slits. “What happened there, James?” she asked.
Jack gave Anna an 'eat -the-plate-of-shit-and-smile' look.
“There will be a full investigation,” Woods replied. “Any information you can give us right now would be helpful.”
“I don't think I want to say anything else without a lawyer.” Anna replied.
The Captain shook his head before leaning over and placing his face in his hands. There was a long pause before anyone spoke.
“A lawyer,” Woods laughed. “Fine, Miss Wool. Your Captain has postponed the charges against you, for now,” he explained. “But I am relieving you of your duties, suspended, without pay, pending a full and thorough investigation.”
Anger struck Anna like a bolt of lightening. The fierce electricity crept up her throat before latching onto her tongue. She bit her lip until it bled, but it was no use.