12 The story of the fallen

Thomas was standing in chief's office with John looking at the chief who was sitting on top of his desk.

"Congrats Thomas you have made this department proud."

"Thank y..."

"But don't get arrogant as many detectives have lost their jobs and in most cases their lives due to it. Sigh, well both of you guys wrap this up and come to my office with the final report."

"Yes, sir!" Both replied simultaneously and went out.

"Sir, the post-mortem report of the cat is out." John said to Thomas.

"Let's go and check out. After that interrogation and then the wrap up. Understood."

"Yes sir."

"Actually you wrap up, while i have someone to meet with."

John had a grinning look on his face."I presume it is your girlfriend sir."

"No it is the one with the girlfriend."Thomas sighed. With the pressure on top of him, he doubt he would be in a position of getting a girlfriend. 'Not while he is alive' Thomas thought.

They then boarded the car and drove to the Atlanta Hospital. They went to the postmodern section and met with the supervisor.

"Hello ma'am my name is Thomas, and this is John and we are here about the cat that came in this morning."

"Well hello detectives, follow me." The woman brought them towards the table

"Well how did the cat die ma'am"

"Well that's the interesting part. It is not murder. It is due to suffocation and a weird reason as well."

"Well we don't catch the point ma'am. There is no strangulation marks, nor any form of struggle on the cat." John said

"Well I didn't mean strangulation, strangulation isn't the only reason for suffocation....."

"Blockage of windpipe due to foreign object." Thomas said calmly.

"Well you catch on quite fast detective. It is indeed blockage of windpipe due to this thing." The woman pulled out a bag containing a USB drive. "The cat seemed to have ingested this."

"Seems like a good reason for him to keep the cat in his office." John said

"Yes, it is. Now let us see what he is hiding."Thomas then faced the woman."Thank you ma'am"

"Anytime detectives." She smiled.

The duo left the Hospital back to the station. They then went to Thomas's desk. Where he was greeted by his seniors Griffin and Zhu yi.

"Hey Thomas, look like you got a big case of the start and forgot to invite us." Griffin winked.

"Last time I checked someone was busy on a case and decided to leave me behind." Thomas grinned.

"Now lads, is it necessary for us to fight."Zhu yi jokingly said.

"Oh man I wanted to see Jermy going all rage mode. I heard you instigated it and your brother is in the hospital. Well who is this handsome man." Griffin said.

"Sigh, I have to go and meet him. And he is John, he is my assistant detective, or a partner you may say."

"Well hope he recovers well. One less detective is one more case for us."Zhu Yi said.

"True."The three of them nodded."

"Well I won't hold you back now. I heard you have one more case from chief. After you finish it, we can take a case together." Griffin said.

"Well It is my honor sir. We will take our leave." After saying this both Thomas and John left. Looking at the backs of the duo...

"Well he is more of a detective material to me."Griffin said

"Yes, he is."Zhu yi smiled.

"Now shall we hunt him."Griffin said.

"Yes, we shall."

BACK TO THOMAS AND JOHN

They decided to check the USB drive but what they saw was encryption. They asked their tech team to decrypt it. They said it would take around 1-2 hours with their workload. Without delay the duo decided to move on to phase 2 of their plan - the interrogation.

They arranged the interrogation room and gathered all evidences. It was John talking while Thomas watches.

The Senior was sitting in the room waiting, when John entered. Thomas was standing behind the mirror.

"Hello there Mr.Jonathan Henry. Now do you know why you are here?" John sat down.

"I don't mind you can go over it." Jonathan smiled.

"Well number 1, abuse."John looked at Jonathan who didn't even flinch. "Number 2, lied to your department of the cat's murder and attempt to cover it, well I could say it would be a 3rd crime as well." While John gave some intimidation, Jonathan didn't flinch. "Number 4, the USB piece swallowed by the dead cat."Jonathan flinch minutely but for a seasoned detective like Thomas, it would be a piece of cake to notice.

"Shall we go through the details now."

"You scared your family and beat them up leaving some nasty bruises on their body. It seemed this habit of yours dated back all the way to 2 years ago. Well according to section XXX, you are deemed to be guilty and you will be jailed for 5 years with a free divorce certificate. Now you will not have a family do you." Jonathan was sad after hearing it. After some intense staring competition between them.....

"Now now where was I, ah yes. Lying to police and attempt to cover an animal abuse? can I say because I found a USB lying in it. Hmm According to section XXX for lying you will be jailed for 10 years. Man they are serious about this. Looks like the government hates people backstabbing. And for animal abuse. It is around 2 years jail time with 50 hours social service, mainly in a care center. Don't think this is the end. Once we decrypt the USB, if we found anything more against you. You are in a serious trouble." John tried pressurizing again. Thomas was impressed with his skills as a newbie in this industry.'He has a strong interrogative mind for sure' Thomas thought. But Jonathan was still silent.

"Well you can call in your lawyer but since this has reached a point where no one can save you except you. Don't ever imagine doing something else. Even a lawyer comes he may reduce the sentence by 2 years maximum. But you will be suffering in jail until your hair turns white. You understand me."John banged the table."Now tell me the reason why you did this and what's in the USB."

"Only those with a family can understand my pain. Only those who can see what I see can understand my pain. Only those with my mind and my heart can truly feel my pain....."

"Sorry to say, but I don't care. I need facts."

"For my family. I did this only for my family." Jonathan smiled.

"Doesn't make sense to me."

"You don't, but your friend might." Jonathan stared at the mirror.

Thomas went inside the interrogation room.

"Well now, you are now a storyteller are you. At Least be a proper police officer before you get stripped of your position." Thomas joined in the talk.

"I am, but are you willing to listen." Jonathan smiled.

"We will see, we will see. Now why doing this protects your family. And from what?" Thomas said

"From that man. Whom you guys don't recognize. There is no records of him being alive or dead. He is like an alien. He is like..."

"....a lunatic killer" Thomas finished his sentence causing Jonathan eyebrows to rise. His eyes showed fear.

"Youuu knoww hiimm?" Jonathan stammered.

"Oh I do way better than you. "Thomas smiled. "Now what does the USB contain. Tell me and your sentence reduces. Tell me and we will make sure your family remain safe. I will make sure of it. And I will take care of him as well."

"YOU CAN'T, AND NO ONE CAN" HE SCREAMED IN FEAR.

"Yes I can. Now tell me what's in the file."

Jonathan paused for a while thinking about his answer. Thomas just smiled, 'It is important to be one step ahead of the interrogation if you want to get your information. Just drop a huge bomb and the person will suffer in your hands. It was one of the holy rules in the 101 skills required by a detective.

"His list" Jonathan sighed.

"Wait a list, like things do kind of stuff?" John asked.

Thomas sighed and leaned back. "Yes that stuff. You don't need to worry, I will take care of that. Just omit this part from the discussion." Thomas lied, he knows that giving any more information would jeopardize his planning and goal. It will also cost countless detectives lives. So he had to put a tight seal over this topic.

"Okay sir." John nodded.

"End of topic let's go." John left, and Thomas was about to leave when he was pulled down by Jonathan.

"I never did anything wrong it is just that I saw it. That's all. That was the beginning of the nightmare. I never wanted this to happen. You understand me don't you." Thomas saw the fear in his eyes.

"I know that" Thomas left the room leaving a scared Jonathan.

"We broke him down completely. It is just too sad he might have a great personality change. How could a man like him become a police officer?" John said

'Not only him, even our chief was scared when he met that man. Only I was able to face him head to head, because I was prepared. But I was too late.' Thomas thought. "Who knows, something he saw changed him both in mind and heart. You wrap it up while I have an appointment to meet someone. And once the USB is decrypted keep it in front of the table. Ask someone to get you a desk beside me."

"Yes sir." John left to do his job while Thomas drove his car to the hospital.

"May I know which room is Wang Zhong admitted to?"

"Who are you sir to Wang Zhong?" The receptionist asked

"I am his brother, Thomas."

"I see sir. He is in room 233, it is just 2 floors above and nearby the lift."

"Thank you ma'am" Thomas went up to the room. He opened the door and saw a woman feeding his brother.

"HEY BROTHER, HOW ARE YOU!!!" Thomas smiled. "You are looking good. Where is mother?" Then looked towards the woman "how are you sister in law? And how are your parents?"

"You piece of shit, you finally showed your face." Wang got up but before he could move any further he was pushed back by his girlfriend.

"You shouldn't get up now. Your legs are bruised, and your hand is fractured. You are now weaker than a boy." She then looked at me. "I am fine. My parents are fine as well. Aunty went to the restroom, uncle is going to buy dinner."

"I heard you solved a case. Heard from my colleagues that it caused a couple of departments shame as it was unsolved after investigation" Surprisingly my brother asked me.

"Yes, I did."

"Good."

"You solved a case. Atta my boy." Suddenly a mature female voice was heard.

"Mother. I missed you" Thomas hugged the figure.

"I missed you too"

After a couple of minutes a bearly man entered the room. He was Thomas's current father. He soon got to know Thomas's achievements

"Well son you have made me proud" A manly sound was heard

"Dad" Thomas then hugged the figure who entered the room

"Well now everyone, gather around. Here you go Thomas you can take some of mine and mom. You should have told me you are coming."

"Dad, I didn't expect to eat dinner here." Thomas was touched with his parents' actions.

"Now let's eat we will talk later." His mother said.

And they ate and chat, coming up to speed on the latest news in their lives until 11:45 pm when...

"Isn't it getting too late Thomas it is almost midnight."

"Well mom I can manage...." Thomas eyes went wide.

'Midnight, Midnight. Shit why did I forget. He once made a move with his gang on the police station at midnight. They gave him the name midnight killer later changed it to the lunatic killer when he didn't care about the auspicious time anymore." His memories that was lost was slowly reconstructing. But still couldn't form completely due to God's prevention.

'What am I going to do?' Thomas thought

Next chapter :- The midnight escape. Or is it?

Words:- 2085 words.