Fazed and Dazed

“Sir!” She loudly salutes, standing up and pushing her chair back.

Drake smirks, resting his hands on the table in a demeaning manner.

Asha scowls, turning her back to him. “But sir, I have…”

“Circumstantial evidence that he is guilty or you are completely sure that he is guilty?”

“I have reason to believe that he is guilty.”

“My words are final, release him now.” He says and hangs up, the loud beep repeating itself in her ears.

How could the chief order such rubbish? Was the chief the connection high up that Trelawney had been bragging about?— Wondering with her back still turned, Drake’s words bring her out of her thoughts into reality.

“Someone higher up asked you to release me, didn’t they? Well, be a good girl and remove the cuffs from my wrists.”

Asha holds her fists, her finger turning red at the tips as it digs deeply into her skin. Not replying him, she walks out, slamming the door behind her, her anger steps echoing down the hall and making other officers clear from her path.

She takes the elevator up the third floor where she barges into the Chief of Police’s office where he is laughing over a glass of whiskey with Trelawney. Having the least courtesy to salute, she observes the scene very briefly and salutes.

“Yes? Have you released Mr. Anderson already? That was fast, don’t you think so sir?”

Trelawney laughs as he drops the glass on the table. “What can I say? She has to keep her job after all.”

Asha completely ignores his statement as well as his presence in the room, solely facing her boss. “You can’t ask me to do that sir. We have work ethics.”

The P.C.’s eyes cloud over. “Are you teaching me how to do my job? Ethics? Asking you to release an innocent man is what you consider unethical? If there is anyone here that is not ethical, it is you.”

“Sir, you can’t let money do the talking here. What if I find out that he is actually guilty?”

The boss’s expression cloud over. “What are you insinuating? That I am corrupt? Watch what you say, Rawlings. I am still your head.”

Asha grunts frustratedly. “I’m sorry if that sounded wrong. How about you ask him where he was that night and then two days after it? Maybe he will tell you and I will clear him of the guilt and I might apologize.” Asha challenges.

“Where he was on the night of the murder?” Trelawney chuckles, looking from Asha to her boss and then back to Asha. “I can tell you though. That night and the two days after, he had been on a work trip at Glasgow, Scotland. You said you will release and even apologize to him if he told you. He told me and I told you, so it’s still valid.”

“Really? When did he tell you this?” Asha inquires, repulsed.

“Just now when I met him in his interrogation, sorry, glorified cell room.”

Oh wow.

The lawyer lies.

Asha lets her shoulders relax. “Oh, I see. Can we go off to see him now? He and you have to sign a couple of documents.”

“Sure, lead the way. See? How easy it is if you have good communication skills.”

The chief laughs. “That is one thing that my Asha lacks. She is hot tempered and it helps her to solve some cases but I guess it was different in this case. Her anger blinded her. It’s a pity, it won’t happen again.”

“Oh, I’m not worried. I’m just looking forward to the apology, I can’t wait to see her bow and apologize for suspecting a man that is currently grieving. Imagine detaining him for his own brother’s murder. Its unheard of, but I am pretty generous. So, shall we?”

Asha musters the best smile she can and points to the door. “After you.”

Trelawney finishes the drink and proceeds to the door, deliberately brushing past her shoulders, a smirk pasted on his face.

Asha turns around behind him.

“Be nice.” Asha hears behind her but keeps silent for fear of saying something that would ruin her ruse.

Outside, they meet just as the elevator doors open. Trelawney gets on first while Asha comes in next, standing behind him.

“Wow. I like your best.” Asha comments, her mouth talking but her eyes focused on the doors.

“What did you say?”

“You told me before that you were going to do your best. Your best is weak.”

Trelawney grimaces.

“I showed you my worst, you have not seen my own best, ill find out what you twpo are hiding no matter what.”

“What is the matter with you? He was in Scotland and he told me himself.”

Just then, the doors open and Asha bumps past him, shoving him to the side rudely just like he had done to her before. “Sure, he did.” She mutters, laughs and then heads in the way of interrogation room four.’

There, Drake is already getting irritable. “Unlock these cuffs immediately, I have to salvage my public image. You have to do a live conference, telling the world that I am not guilty as you have made me seem.”

“Oh, sorry but my boss just asked me to release you…”

“And apologize. You were about to leave out that bit.”

Asha throws him a dirty glance. ”Sure. I am to apologize too since your lawyer told me that you were in Washington for a meeting on the night of Paul’s death.

The lawyer’s eyes immediately widen, realizing that he was not dealing with just any dumb or loose headed officer. This one knows her wits, but of course, Drake falls for it.

Drake glances very briefly at Trelawney and bursts into a smile. “Yes of course. I had been off to Washington to seal a deal with a very important client. They had not been able to reach me, you know, long distance calls and all of that.”

Behind Asha, Trelawney facepalms.

“I see. There must have been very bad network and you were too busy to call your family for three days. Imagine if the emergency in your family? But no issues. You were simply unreachable. Can happen to anyone. Right?”

Drake nods eagerly, raising his hands and then raising an eyebrow.

“Only thing I don’t know is how Scotland and Washington end up in the same place…” She turns around to glance at the lawyer who can’t meet her eyes. “But, no worries. I’ll release you and let you go.” She reaches into her pants and gasps dramatically, fishing in and out of her pockets in search of something. “I think I left the keys in my office or something. Please, give me three minutes. I’ll find it and be right back.”

Drake groans, leaning back into the chair.

Asha exits and enters into the other door where the camera and recording features had been working all along.

She taps her phone in her pocket and is satisfied it is still right there.

She returns back into the interrogation room after turning off the CCTV camera and the recordings, and in her hands are the keys that were never lost. “I am sorry I took so long but I have the keys now.” She reaches down and looses the cuffs from Drake’s hands.

He stands up from the metal chair, massaging his wrists. “You know, I don’t mean to come off as off putting but you’re quite a beautiful woman and I can take you out of here if you agree that I should. With your assets and fiery attitude, I am very sure that you will do very well in whatever place I put you…” He walks around the table and stands right in front of her. “What do you think about my offer?” he leers and places his left hand on her right shoulder.

For a split second, Asha smirks, and in the next, she grabs Drake by his shoulders, pinning him in place before pulling him off the floor, past her head and down to the floor.

He lets out a loud yell of pain and immediately, Asha covers his mouth. “That’s my response. Be rest assured you will hear from this fiery officer once again.

Glad, for once, that she turned off the recording before coming back.

It all does not take more than seven to ten seconds.

Trelawney flies over to Drake’s side, pulling him up. “Why did you do that? We will be suing for assault.”

“Sure. Go ahead. Ill be waiting to see how you prove that I flipped a man that is probably double my size in the court. All that you have…” She smiles genuinely, having fun. “is circumstantial evidence anyway.” She states comically, returning his own words, Trelawney, right back at him.

She opens the door and steps out, stopping a saluting officer as he passes. “The less fiery officers will attend to you both while I figure out where is called Scotland in Washington, or probably, Washington in Scotland. Once again, you will hear from me pretty soon.”

Standing there, both men dazed, the door closes in their faces.