Chapter 15: Pain and Discovery

10 0 0
                                    

The silence in the Ingerman household's living room seemed to physically press down on the occupants within. Stoick, Gobber, Helga, Malte, Throk and Mogadon, all sitting on sofas, with Helga and Malte together, Stoick, Gobber and Throk sitting beside each other, and Mogadon sitting alone. It went on for a few minutes before at last Helga snarled. "I want an explanation as for how you let my son get shot a few days ago," she demanded, glaring at everyone besides her husband.

"It was as much a surprise to us as to you," Mogadon replied after a moment's pause. "I would like to apologise as head of security-"

"Fuck your apology. It won't do my son any good now. I want to know how it happened," she spat.

"Again, I must inform you that we had no idea that Lieutenant Ingerman would be shot," repeated Mogadon.

"We have now arranged for the prisoners who engage in prison labour at the soap factory where the incident occurred, to be sent back to prison for the foreseeable future," cut in Throk. "And I have assigned Detective Ack to investigate what happened there. Rest assured, we will find the assailant."

"Forgive me for not feeling all that convinced. Regardless, I want you all to leave now," she said firmly.

Stoick was the first to rise. "My condolences-"

"Just, go."

At that, they all wordlessly left the room, followed by Malte rising to see them off.

"I hope you'll keep me posted if you find Mildew?" he asked, after stepping into the hallway and unlocking the door for them.

"Certainly," voiced Gobber, followed by three nods of agreement.

"Thank you," he replied gratefully. "Goodnight to you all."

Gobber, Throk and Mogadon filed through the door, but Stoick remained.

"Give your wife my condolences, once she's calmed down some," he said with a sigh before he too left.

"Sure thing Stoick," Malte quietly muttered, more to himself than the General.

Outside, the quartet conversed among themselves. "What's the deal with our guests? Are you ready to hand them over to me?"

"I can arrange for that tomorrow morning, but they have a lawyer who wants their charges dropped," said Stoick.

"For all of them?"

"No, just Krogan Prince and Grimmel. They're apparently employees of D.B. Security."

"Really? Clearly, their lawyer has lost his or her mind. They assaulted an officer of mine and were accessory to an armed robbery that took place right in front of me. How can they possibly get away with that?"

Stoick shrugged. "Yeah, I agree it's impossible, but that's what he said. It's Olaf Thorston by the way, which makes things even more interesting."

Throk was speechless for a moment. "Olaf Thorston? The uncle of the officer who was assaulted is defending them? Oh, this has just gotten a whole lot better."

Throk nodded with a smile. "Indeed it has. I'll let you know the results of that impending trainwreck after the fact. But now, I'd like to get home."

"Yeah, we should head home too. Goodnight, Throk, Gobber, Mogadon," said Stoick.

"Night, Stoick," they chorused, before each parted ways.

The Gentle SniperWhere stories live. Discover now