It Ain’t Easy.
It was 13:40 when Frank got back into his car. As he drove, he considered his situation. On the one hand he was a police officer, he had sworn an oath to defend the law, and the citizens of his city. On the other hand, he was a police officer chasing down a suspect accused of violent crimes that had resulted in a woman being hospitalized and the death of her unborn child. The fact that it was his wife and child, shouldn’t be a factor. It shouldn’t, but it was. On top of all of that was the fact that he wasn’t just a cop, he believed in what he did, what it stood for. It wasn’t just his job, he was a police officer, and someone had attacked his family because of it.
Frank let out a long breath and tried to not think of anything, to just let his mind settle, so that when he arrived, he could be as calm as possible.
The house he pulled up to was easily the size of his apartment building, which didn’t surprise him. But it did renew his anger. Still though his outward appearance was calm and almost cheerful. Just a friendly police officer stopping by to make sure everything was alright, and that everyone was safe.
The building was located near the Central City, so they couldn’t have any kind of large border fence. But Frank did suspect that at least the first few floors were for business only. He once again tried to let his thoughts go as he casually walked up to the front door. For a moment he considered knocking to see what would happen, but instead turned with a smile to the intercom and pressed the button marked ‘Reception.’
An annoyed but professional voice instantly reacted, giving Frank the distinct impression that he’d been watched the entire time, and that they were waiting for him.
“What do you want?”
His smile lingered and he pointed it towards the small camera just above the speaker box.
“I’m detective Frank Oslo, and I’m here to speak to Roman Napier.”
The time between him announcing himself and the speaker asking him the next question was significantly longer than when he pushed the button. So much so that he considered pushing the button again, but didn’t. It was clear that they had to relay to someone with authority that a police officer was there, and that that could take some time.
“What is this visit in connection too, please?”
Frank’s smile faded and he stared directly into the camera.
“Dirty Danny Dirt told me that Mr Napier put out the hit on me which left my wife in hospital and my child dead. I’m here to see if there is any truth to that.”
Frank took a breath and let go of the words as he said them, and settled himself in to wait for as long as it took to get a response.
This time the gap wasn’t as long as he expected, but the voice that came through the speaker wasn’t the same as before.
“Come straight through the lobby officer Oslo. You will then find an elevator on the right-hand side which you will take to the 7th floor. From there my assistant will escort you to my office.”
Frank regained his smile and said.
“Thank you, Mr Napier.”
A buzzing sound filled the doorway and Frank pushed the door open, and did as he was told. The man that met him at the other end of the elevator smiled nervously and gestured for him to be followed, but didn’t say anything. Frank noticed that his suit was too tight to be hiding any sort of weapon and his posture loudly pronounced that he was not a man of violence. Some people could hide it well, but this man was not one of them. As they walked Frank began to suspect that the real purpose of the man was to give the business an air of legitimacy. As a proof that not everyone in a criminal organization was a criminal, some were just business students who replied to the wrong job ad, and didn’t know how to get out of the situation they had gotten themselves into. It was also very possible that no part of the man’s job was actually criminal or illegal in anyway. An innocent bystander on retainer for the days when a police officer came knocking at the door.
Roman Napier’s office was large and clearly meant to be intimidating. The walls were dark wood paneled and lined with book shelves, a large lit fireplace sat in one corner with two comfortable old leather chairs and a mini-bar, and in the center in front of a wall sized window, sat a desk nearly the size of a conference table, and behind that sat the man himself. The assistant stopped at the door and let Frank walked the rest of the way alone. Roman stood waiting then gestured towards a chair for Frank to sit on, then he pressed a button on his desk and said into a small black box.
“Bring in the coffee service please.”
The silence returned as the two sat waiting, two women came in with trays and served them both coffee in silence, and Frank had to mentally give credit where it was due. Without prompting or questioning, the lady near him prepared the coffee the way he took coffee. Another clear message that Roman Napier was a man of means and information, and he knew who Frank Oslo was.
Even so, they waited until they were alone again before either of them even reached for the coffees. Roman broke the silence first.
“Is Mr Dirt still alive?”
Frank sipped his coffee then said,
“He was when I left him.”
Napier nodded thoughtfully.
“I can presume he told you why I might have put a contract out on you?”
“You blame me for some violence your daughter suffered in prison recently.”
Again, Napier nodded, this time more impressed than thoughtful.
“You must be very good at your job detective to have found out all of that from one interview.”
Frank smiled,
“I can be very persuasive when I need to be.”
Napier put his cup down, let out a breath and stretched his shoulders.
“To answer your question, yes I did put a contract out on you, and yes I believe that the violence that reached your family was intended for you as a result of that contract.”
Frank’s eyes narrowed and he felt his vision begin to tunnel with rage, but he held himself together and took a long and deliberate breath in, and out, knowing that he was giving his position and feelings away, but also seeing the necessity for waiting to hear if there was more information to come, and after the moment passed, there was.
“For what it’s worth I would like to tell you that since hearing of this I have rescinded the contract, and the man responsible has been detained and punished. He is, however, still alive if you would like to take him into custody yourself. On a personal note, I would also like to apologize. It was not part of the contract to harm your family in anyway, it was specifically aimed at you, and I am incredibly regretful that that business spilled into your personal life. I find it unprofessional and unforgiveable. As a result, I have decided to not bring another contract up against you in the future for any reason.”
Frank took another long breath then reached for his coffee and took a sip.
“The man in question is here, in this building?”
Napier nodded,
“I can have him brought up to us with literally the push of a button. Or you can leave him here with me and know that he will be suitably dealt with. In fact, the only reason he is alive is as an apology to what you lost in this unfortunate misunderstanding of my orders.”
The words rolled over Frank and he felt his shoulders tighten so sharply that he instantly got a headache, then felt them release and the pain faded. He took another sip of coffee, but it suddenly tasted ashen.
“Do you have anything stronger?”
Napier smiled and stood,
“Of course I do, please, follow me.”
They walked together towards the fire place and minibar. Napier poured them both glasses of something brown out of a crystal decanter and handed one to Frank. They clinked glasses and Frank drank his down in one, then handed it back. Napier’s smile grew and he refilled the glass, saying,
“I appreciate you being so direct about this matter and so open to hearing me out.”
Frank took a more civilized sip and said.
“I prefer to know all the details before making decisions, if I can. I feel that it gives me a better chance of making the right decision. You know what I mean?”
“Absolutely, I feel the same way.”
He smiled at Frank, who flicked his drink into Napier’s eyes, and as quick as lightening slammed his fist into his face so hard that two of his fingers broke. Napier’s eyes rolled into the back of his head as his body went rigid and he fell over sideways twitching. Frank picked up the decanter and poured the rest of what had to be very expensive whiskey over Napier, then pulled his expensive looking suit jacket up over his head and dropped the end into the fire place.
He then casually and quite calmly toppled the two leather chairs on top of Napier and began pouring more and more booze from the mini bar over and around him. Then he stood back and watched the fire as it spread over the man, and begin to run along the booze-soaked floor, into the synthetic underside of the chairs, into the carpets and begin dancing with the wood paneled walls. Frank smiled and had to hold back a laugh, then said out loud to the quietly crackling room.
“Nero watched as Rome burned.”
Then the screaming started and Frank forgot himself for a moment and let a low rumbling laugh bubble up out of him. Then he checked his gun, straightened his own jacket, and made his way to the office doors.
To be continued…
***