Path of the Vampire forum

There was a knock at the door. An officer led Flynn Connors in before pulling the door to again. Flynn introduced himself as Raven’s legal counsel and asked if he could have a moment to speak with her. Aaron got to his feet, shook the man’s hand, for to reasons, and pulled the chair he had occupied in. “I’m happy to give you both a moment, I need to photocopy a couple of things,” he told Flynn. “Mind if I take some identification, a work card or driver’s license?” Aaron requested. He was sure the person on duty at the front desk had checked, but he needed something to slip into the file for later.

Aaron reached for the folder and tucked it under his arm. He pressed a switch on his side of the desk. The lights behind the glass pane on the far side of the room lit up, revealing that the observation room was empty and would stay that way while Aaron went to get the photocopying done for this and another case he had been lumbered with.

Raven spoke up about the reasons why she was so unwilling to talk about her brother Dean and the last time she had seen him. Aaron offered a tight smile and closed his hand against the top of the file tucked under his arm. “I understand it can’t be easy to talk about,” Aaron said. “However, for me to do my job, and being new to this case, I will need some cooperation on your part, Miss Talius, if you want your brother to be found. That is what we are trying to accomplish here.”

He paused, did she want Dean found, were her features telling? “I’ll be back back in ten.” Aaron told Flynn. He took his leave of the room, pulling the door closed behind him before he ventured down the hall towards the photocopying room.

Aaron put the two forms of identity face down on the polished glass of the scanner and covered them with a piece of white paper to make sure that they copied well. He closed the lid then and stared into space as the machine lit up and made a perfect copy of Flynn’s ID. The officer pulled the crisp sheet of paper from the tray and slipped it into the file without so much as glancing at the document, before pressing a button to make a second copy, this one digital, one that would be sent straight to the inbox on his computer.

After collecting the cards, Aaron went to the front desk and asked the boot working the late shift to bring up the security footage from outside the station moments before Mr Connors had entered.

“Right, Flynn Connors,” Alice said, the man having introduced himself a few minutes ago when he walked in.

“Flynn…” Aaron turned over the man’s ID card and saw the name there. How had he missed it!

Smile Flynn, you’re on camera.

“He knows,” Aaron mouthed.

“What’s that?” Alice asked.

“Stop the tape right there,” Aaron ordered, and pointed to the moment Flynn had pulled up to the station. “Bingo,” he said. “I want a copy of these two pictures sent to my Dropbox.”

“Right away.”

Aaron walked outside and followed the footpath to stand beside Flynn’s car. He took the small camera from the breast pocket of his shirt and snapped a couple of photos of the plates, wrote down model and make, then returned to the station.

“Run a check on these,” he said to the young officer at reception, and handed her Flynn’s provided identification. “I want a background on the car too,” Aaron added, jotting down the plate number for her.

He watched as Alice did the checks, lording over the poor rookie, offering guidance where he saw fit.

“I’m not finding an address but I do have his place of work,” she told him.

“The car will get you an address.”

“If it’s his.”

“Right,” Aaron said, “you check that first. Print out what you find and bring it to me in the far interview room once you’re done.”

“As soon as it’s done?”

He agreed with a nod and headed down the hall again, ID cards in hand, the folder tucked under his arm.

Aaron remained quiet for a time after re-entering the room. He asked Raven to return to her seat and waited for Flynn to give up his chair. Aaron went to the camera and noticed that the video had been paused. He checked the audio cable hadn’t been pulled and started recording once more. When he sat, he leaned back in his chair, the leather sighing under his weight, thighs apart, fingers stitched together, hands rested in his lap. The folder had been slapped down on the table, the lights in the viewing room turned off.

He had tried good cop. He liked good cop. Aaron was a good cop, but Raven had been toying with him. He had to make a decision. Did Flynn owe her something, a favour perhaps he was willing to break the law for, or was he just a friend, doing what friends did?

The moment he spent studying the man, Aaron was sure would feel like a lifetime to one with something to hide, especially one with a career perhaps to protect. Surely the news would not go down well with his boss.

When Aaron finally spoke, he chose first to lean forward, take up a pen, and flick open his notebook. “Can you state your full job title, Mr Connors, for the record.”