The Serpent and the Crow

Book 3: Chapter Twelve

Wade sat in an examination room. He stared at his reflection in the one-way mirror. He twisted away because he was ashamed of himself. Unwilling to admit his failures at the mine. Solemn Pines police station was anything but cosy. They developed it during the American Civil War, built upon the foundation of a slavery pen. The design and features remained. Features of misery and pain.

Wade never felt more uncomfortable, in his workplace, than he did at this moment. Although They had not handcuffed, he considered it an odd place for his debrief.

The door swung open and a short old white man strolled in, wearing suspenders that made him appear like the Penguin from Batman Returns.

A black woman came in a business suit that made her look FBI. But her combat boots said otherwise. Wade noticed they were both carrying weapons. The only thing he did not know was who they were. He had never seen them in Solemn PD before. It was then he realized this was not a celebratory affair. He realized it was an interrogation. They might act as his friend and ask how he is doing, but they were not friends.

"How are you doing, Detective?"

Wade nodded.

"I'm special agent Richie Roscoe. FBI."

"Paula Williams. FBI."

Wade nodded.

"Do you want coffee? Beverage?" She said.

Wade shook his head. Williams took a seat while Roscoe stood against the wall. Wade looked at the one-way mirror, wondering who was listening.

"We're just here to get your story on this."

"What do you want, special agent Williams?"

"What I asked, Detective."

"I've been through this already at Lake Laconic with Solemn ground commander, Nicholas Grisham. "

"You haven't told us and let me tell you... we need to know."

Roscoe said, "Grisham doesn't have the... expertise we do."

"What do you specialise in special agent Roscoe?"

"We'll ask the questions if it's all the same, Detective."

The entire interrogation felt like it took hours. Wade had had no rest since being ushered to Lake Laconic and checked over by the EMT and flown to a ground unit to be taken by a car accompanied by SPPD road patrol. They seemed interested in the investigation, especially around Dale.

The little guy seemed curious why SPPD didn't inform the FBI that the kidnapping case turned murder case crossed states. She kept asking Wade if he learned the protocol when such a case exceeded SPPD jurisdiction...

They propped up when he explained why County Sheriff Martinez and two detectives from Armadillo were informed, but not the FBI. What concerned Wade was that the questions were more directed towards the officers involved in the investigation. It did not concern concerning Katie Harding or Elmer Braithwaite.

"So, what took place down there, Wade?" She asked.

"Why didn't Douglas go down there too?"

Wade drew a deep breath. He said, "Detective Jador and I identified the suspect and it became apparent that we were at the wrong location."

"Tell us more about Edgar." She asked.

Wade said, "Upon arriving at the cave, near Redfern House, after County Sheriff Martinez and Detective Jador extracted Detective Cortez to the LZ. We came upon Douglas unconscious on the ground."