The Serpent and the Crow

Book 4: Chapter Two

Douglas sat in his office at the precinct filing paperwork. Checking work emails. Nez dwelled on what Wade said. Doug understood if he was down in the caves, perhaps the outcome would have been different. He glanced out at the other officers. He could not help but acknowledge some elements in Wade's story matched up. Wade said Elmer Braithwaite had many devotees.

One of them being CIB director Mick Flavell. He was missing around the time. Wade was lying because Douglas was staring right at Mick Flavell. Wade mentioned that there were dozens of followers worshipping Elmer Braithwaite. Douglas could not help that there were a lot of officers missing during that time.

He looked at Flavell, helping himself to another polystyrene cup of water. The director stared at Douglas without blinking. Douglas never had a problem with Flavell in the past. Nez discerned that there was something off about Mick. Douglas saw others moving about their business in the precinct. But they seemed to always be glaring at Douglas, too.

Douglas spotted a young man look around the precinct. He looked at Douglas and pushed by other officers restraining a meth head, or prostitute, or both. He looked young, at least straight out of the academy. The acting chief said he was the youngest to get his detective's badge. The young man opened the door to the office, extended a handshake.

"Detective Nez? I assumed from... the name on the glass door."

"You sure it wasn't because I was the only Native in here?"

"We're all Native, sir. I mean..."

"Shut it."

"Yes, sir."

"The door," Nez said.

The new detective realised he left the door open and closed it. He twisted back with his arms behind his rear as if he was standing to attention. Douglas considered it funny as if he was appearing before his drill sergeant.

"Who are you?"

Douglas knew who he was, he just wanted to play with him a bit.

"Detective Wes Lawton, sir."

"Lawton, why are you in my office?"

"I'm your new partner."

"I know that, Detective. Why did you ask to be reassigned here? You could have had your pick anywhere. But you chose me."

"I don't assume we can choose our colleague, Detective."

"Stop jerking my chain, I just got told you were the top dick in the academy. You had a placing at Quantico but turned it down. Why would you do that? They would've paid you more every month than they pay me for the entire year? You're an A-grade student in an F- grade precinct. So, why Solemn? And, why me?"

"I studied you, sir."

"Excuse me?"

"At Quantico. BSU."

"They have Douglas 101 at the Behavioural Science Unit."

"Not you per se, sir. The case."

"What case? I've worked plenty since '98."

"Elmer Braithwaite, sir. The Solemn Stalker."

"I know who it is. Is that what they call him in the academy? What about him?"

"Well, that's why I'm here."

"That case is closed, Lawton. Long time. They never recovered Elmer Braithwaite's body. But it's safe to say he's a dead as Dillinger."

"I don't assume so."

Douglas looked at Lawton as if he was joking, but he was serious.

"I believe he's still at large."

"You believe?"

"Yeah, don't you?"

Douglas was not predicting any of this. He was expecting to haze this new dick, teach him a few things, and recommend him to another division as soon as possible. Douglas read Lawton's file, and he did not seem to be one to fool around. His grades suggested he was a man to listen to. Douglas was going to tell him to fuck off, but when he asked Douglas if he believed... He kind of reminded Doug of Wade in a way.

Douglas said, "Are you confident that door is shut?"

Lawton nodded.

"Let's go to my office."

"I understood this to be your office?"