THANKSGIVING DAY
Opening my eyes I saw the sun shining down on me, its golden rays burning through the cracks in my pale white curtains. It was a symbolic start to a celebrated day.
I groggily got up from my bed, tiredness heavy in my body. I lazily walked to my bathroom and began getting ready for the day. Today was the most momentous time of the year for my family and millions of other families.
It was Thanksgiving.
After I finished brushing my teeth and taking a nice, warm shower, I put on fitted black sweats, a pair of grey matte slides, and a plain white shirt.
I steadily descended the wooden stairs, each step creaking under my heavy feet. When I made my way to the bottom, I could smell the affluent scent of gamey oozing through the air. Its iron-rich smell had consumed my sense of smell, blocking out all other fragrances that lingered in the air.
Walking into the kitchen I saw a beautiful woman hovering around the kitchen. She went from one side of the kitchen to the other almost seemingly as if she's had 100s of years of experience. Her smooth footwork reminded me of a ballerina during a performance.
When Ariana turned to look at me her face lite up, joy stretched across her gorgeous pale face. She stopped everything she was working on and ran toward me. When she was a mere few inches away from my face, she suddenly stopped, her eyes twinkled, her mouth was slightly agape, and Arianas face held something I couldn't quite put a finger on.
"Trevor! You came at the perfect time sweetie. I need help dicing the vegetables. Can you help me out?"
"Sure, mom but where are dad and Carla?" I said as I began to efficiently slice the carrots, lettuce, and other vegetables.
"Your dad went out to visit your grandfather, and your sister is buying an apple pie that your father "conveniently" forgot to buy. I swear sometimes that man could be so clueless." Ariana said, chuckling.
"That's dad for you. Sometimes he lets his laziness get the better of him."
"Haha. While I might hate that about him there are still other good things about him."
Just as Ariana said that I felt a sudden electrifying buzz in my pocket. It sent shockwaves throughout my body, causing my leg muscles to tighten slightly.
"Mom I gotta use the bathroom I'll be right back."
"Alright sweetie."
Inside the bathroom, I pulled out my phone and read the name plastered on the small screen.
Liam.
Staring at the name, I contemplated whether I should answer the call or not. However, I knew that I had to answer the call. Flipping the phone open I heard a deep masculine voice whisper in my ear.
"Hello, Richard?"
"Captain Henderson. What happened why are you calling me?"
"Richard we have to meet I have something important that I have to tell you. We need to talk."
"I'm sorry captain but Im too busy can we meet next week Monday?"
"Agent smith you might be busy today, but this cannot wait."
"Alright I understand. Meet me at Mamas Latin Café. Be there in an hour."
"Ok."
After Liam hung up the phone, I immediately began to get ready. Rushing into my room, I grabbed a plain black hoodie and switched into a pair of black boots.
When I was downstairs, I passed by the kitchen where Ariana was preparing the thanksgiving dinner.
"Hey mom, I gotta go really quick, my friend wanted to hang out with me for a bit. I'll be back in an hour and a half."
"Okay sweetie be safe."
After hearing Arianas motherly words I made my departure to Mamas Latin Café. While on my way to the café I pondered what it is that made Captain Liam need to desperately meet me.
Could it be that he figured me out? No. He wasn't smart enough to deduce that I was a fake, instead could the real genius be setting this up. I considered the possibility but how would he already deduce my identity. No, instead judging by Liams tone in the call he must have had a problem at work. The paranoia I induced in him might have finally kicked in.
If I play my cards right, then I would be able to deduce the identity of the mastermind controlling Liam.
When I was down the street from the café, I could spot the captain siting in a booth against the glass, a look of worry painted across his face.
Walking into a local convenience store I silently went through the aisles pretending to search for something, but in truth I kept one eye on the café. I looked for anything that seemed suspicious, if any one person had been staring at Liam too intently then I considered the meeting a bust.
I watched as cars blurred by, my eyes taking a mental picture of every single license plate and making sure that none of the same cars drove by.
Looking at the people inside the café I didn't notice anyone who had caught my eye. After taking one more good look around I came to the conclusion that it was safe. Grabbing a bag of chips, I quickly paid and made my way to the café. When I had approached the café captain Hendersons face lite up with relief, the once tensed man could finally breathe in my presence.
"Man am I glad to see you, Richard."
"Sorry to stomp all over your parade but we must make this quick, I have important work I have to finish, so if you could…"
"Ah right…" Captain Henderson ransacked through his bag, shifting through countless important documents until he clearly found what he was searching for.
"Aha… here" the coolness of the dense sheet of paper sliding into my palms caused my inner self to tingle in excitement. However, an even greater feeling overcame me. Reading the front page, I saw something that almost made me want to jump for joy.
"This… this is…"
"Yep. The profiles of our officers, just like you wanted."
What was going on? My face felt like it was about to break. My usually hardened expression was slowly cracking. I had to grab the menu resting on the table and hold it open against my face. I was on the verge of laughing. This was the first time this has ever happened.
"Are you ok agent Richard?"
"Yeah. I was just looking at the menu. But I need to get back on track." Setting the stack of documents to the side and placing the menu down I put on my serious face and began to conduct business.
"Alright first things first. I need you to tell me what was so important that we had to meet." I said.
"Right right… yesterday at work something… bad happened…
YESTERDAY
I was sitting in my office thinking of all the haunting stuff you had told me. I couldn't even focus on my work because of what I heard.
"I feel awful" I said as my stomach yelled at me furiously for having one too many beers. "Shouldn't have had so damn many."
Sipping the coffee that rested on my desk I felt the caffeine combat my morning fatigue.
"God." Just as I said that a familiar face walked into my office. He strutted in full of confidence, his face hardened with no emotions.
"Liam, we need to talk."
"Oh James. Please sit."
Sitting rather robotically in my seat James held a folder labeled H-Town eye gouger. His eye was filled with a seriousness unlike anything I've seen from him before. Setting the folder down in the corner he let a massive sigh that he had been holding in for a while.
"Man, Liam. I gotta admit man this case is kicking my ass. In my whole life I've never encountered a puzzle quite like this one."
"I know what you mean man this case is racking my brain. Although I am surprised that someone of your genius is struggling this much."
"Yea its almost as if the killer is one of our own." James said quietly with his hands covering his mouth.
"Yea… ha… ha…" I said nervously. In the brief second that I reached for my cup of coffee I saw James's dart his eye from nothing to my face. Immediately after blinking once James focus was back to where it always was, nothing
No… it can't be… is James… the killer? No, it can't… it can't.
"Something wrong Liam." James said with a slight smirk present on his face. I felt the pores on my face begin to open up to levels I didn't think was possible. Suddenly the coffee and alcohol that had been mixed together the past few days began to really start kicking my ass.
"Oh g-god." I mumbled. I felt ill… physically ill.
"… Alright Liam I'm gonna go… clearly you need to rest. See you friend." James said as he gripped my shoulder with his rough hand. A smirk appeared on his face as he began to leave.
"I must leave." I said in my head.
Grabbing my suitcase and car keys. I dashed through the door and hurriedly made my way through the police precinct. People looked at me as if I was a mad man. The faces of people I once considered my friends had suddenly turned into something unrecognizable.
"Samantha… not you it can't be you? Roger why are you looking at me like that? Are you the killer?"
I thought at first it was James but now… now I don't know who to trust in the police department. Everyone that I used to know, and trust has suddenly become a suspect now.
That day I stumbled home from work, with no one to trust anymore.
PRESENT DAY
"That's why I need you. The entire police department is now a suspect, and you are the only one I can trust." Said Liam.
I sat in the booth and listened to the story that unfolded in front of me, nodding my head all the while I formulated my own ideas.
Everything has gone according to plan. Liam has begun to question his surroundings and is isolating himself from his peers. I just need to keep pushing him against a wall until he'll be entirely dependent on me.
"Liam. This doesn't look good. If what you say is true, then the entire department is contaminated. One officer has clearance that no other human being has. Accesses to resources that normal civilians would never have. From now on any new evidence that you gather must be given to me too along side the rest of the police department."
"I understand agent Richard, from now on any new information will be shared with you."
"A couple of more things. You cannot, ABSOLUTELY CANNOT let any of your fellow officers know of my existence. If they figure out, we're collaborating it puts me in danger. And under no circumstances should you call me. When we need to meet, I'll call you. Do you understand?"
"I understand." Said Liam, he was completely entrapped within my web of lies. Now the once noble officer would be used to help me get rid of the genius who hid in waiting for me.
After finishing our chat, the waiter brought us our food and for the next hour we ate the sizzling hot breakfast we were served.
Following my meeting with captain Henderson I continued to make my way back home, where the thanksgiving dinner should be about done. Hidden away in my sweater were the documents that had the profile of every current homicide officer.
Dangling from my wrist was the convenience store bag that contained the bag of chips I had bought earlier. The bag read in big bold red letters "THANK YOU."
Placing my hand on my chest I could feel the heavy and slow rhythmic beating of my heart. But something was wrong. Unlike before, where the beating of my heart could be heard, nothing rung in my ear. this feeling didn't satisfy me.
The excitement was not there.
It was too easy. The challenge that I had sought wasn't here. A feeling that could be only compared to disappointment overcame me. I only hoped that my "friend" would come up with a solution to the dilemma I had presented to him.
However, at the same time I didn't want him to beat me.