The Traps of the Black Swan

104

Brodie Powell, a man in his mid-forties working as a chief of police for the past five years. After much struggle, connections, he was promoted to the position where he was.

He was working on a case waiting for a reporter who wanted to take his interview, especially on the recent case he had solved about money laundry.

He was excited to earn a separate section in the news so he didn't mind waiting even though he was pissed off thinking the reporter is disrespectful of him and his work position.

Anyhow, he had to press down his irritation and waited for ten minutes until he heard a knock on his office door. He had ordered everyone to give him privacy during the interview so he knew the reporter is the one who knocked on the door.

He quickly sat in poise straightening his back and corrected his arm position and composed to look like a man who holds power and bears the position.

He purposefully didn't raise his head at first but showed like he was deeply concentrated on his work to make it look like he wasn't desperate to appear in a newspaper or magazine.

However, his hunger for popularity as the best cop was soon going to be replaced. He started his words when he heard no voice, "Ms. Sali..." 'mone' Rest of the words went down his throat and his eyes widened gazing at the lady entering the office room.

'Why does she look so familiar yet... different?'

He forgot about greeting her or breathing some air, staring at the girl who gracefully took off her sunglasses and... narrowed her black orbs.

'Thud.' Chief Powell jerked up in horror causing his chair to fall back and his lap struck the edge of the desk.

But he ignored the pain and stared at the lady. 'How could it be?' He thought remembering he had personally checked that girl when she had stopped breathing. He had even closed her lifeless eyes before leaving the warehouse.

He tried hard to remember her name but failed. He never heard her name in the first place. How could he even remember now?

Ruby Jane was pleased to see him identify her and the beads of precipitation appearing gradually on his forehead.

Even though she sometimes becomes curious how they could remember her so easily, she didn't fret over it. Doesn't she remember them killing her? Why should they forget the girl they killed?

Chief Powell's hand raised without having any idea he was trembling profusely, "V-Vance Hays f-fiancée?" He was completely disoriented to mention 'ex'.

Ruby Jane's single eyebrow slightly raised at him while her lips were in an evil smirk yet her face was calm as though her lips weren't hers.

Unhurriedly sitting on a chair, she didn't bother to ask him to have a seat, "Long time... Chief Powell."

Chief Powell's jaw dropped, he felt his knee weak and dizzy. He swayed almost causing Ruby Jane to furrow her brows but he held the desk quickly to steady himself and taking deep long irregular breaths.

If he had heard people saying she is dead, he would have thought she wasn't dead and it's false news but he had personally checked she was dead. How is this possible?

Instead of afraid of being avenged, he couldn't believe what was in front of his eyes and what was going on. Dead can't be alive but he knows she is the same girl hence he couldn't make out what and where it's going wrong.

He stammered to ask, "H- how could you be alive? I- I..."

Ruby Jane waited but he continued to stutter 'I' repeatedly. So she completed for him, "You checked I wasn't breathing?"