You Don't Name Him

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The police station was even more cleaner, emptier but bright and well lit. There was a desk exactly in front of the entrance and two more on each sides. The desks were most probably wooden and they looked quite tough. There were six officers in the room and four standing right beside me. It was a two-storeyed building this, and my guess was the lock up cells were to be on the top floor. The officers were all middle aged and quite fit. I was quite appalled by the fitness of these officers. There was no sloppiness shown by the four escorting officers and these looked alert as well. There were six windows, two on each wall.

They escorted me to the top floor. There were exactly 15 steps to the top. They were made of metal and were relatively new. On the top floor, there were eight lockup cells, four on each side. There was a grumpy face sitting in the midst of the room, looking at me as if he was expecting me. He was a lot more older and had a beer belly. His eyes were swollen and he was quite sweaty. His name tag read 'S. Cobblepot'. He was the officer in charge of the station.

"Well, well, well. Don't you worry son, you ain't going there, yet." he said while pointing towards the empty cells. I wondered if I would be the first one to be locked up there but then, they couldn't prove anything I hadn't done.

"I want ---"I started

"Hey, hey, hey I want your lips sealed big boy. I don't like when people talk too much." he exclaimed, "so here's what we are going to do. We going to take you to the 'talking room' and make you sing the song we want you to sing. Save your energy for that part. You'll need it there. I'm going to be overlooking this investigation and you'll be interrogated by Officer Cisco. He's one of our best."

I was very tempted to say that they could do better but I went against my gut. But I was frustrated now. It had gone on for too long. I really didn't know what had I done. I wanted to ask questions but that would make me look more guilty. So I had no choice but to wait. Wait for the right time.

I was furthermore escorted to the right and there was a door reading 'Singing Room' staring right at me. I really couldn't believe they actually did that. The FBI guidelines severely condemns any such practice of any possible changes in the naming of such things.

I was pushed inside the room and left alone for a while. I was used to it. Whenever a suspect is brought in for questioning, he is left alone in the room for a while. At the most five minutes. It gives the suspect the time to let it sink in that he's been arrested. But to be honest, it didn't really affect me for two reasons; The first being I hadn't done anything and two being that I was used to all this. I could see the one - way mirror. I knew that right now, around four sets of eyes would be staring at me.

Officer Cisco came in slamming the door shut. He sat in the chair in front of me, the table being the only thing separating us. The room was well lit but the color of the walls was quite faded. He looked at me for a minute and I returned the stern look back. He opened his file on me and starting asking and saying things that I already knew.

"So an ex-cop, eh?" he exclaimed.

I remained silent and just nodded along.

"Fourteen years of service, four medals of honor, no unwanted records about you, honorable discharge. You seem to look like a good guy, why to do all this?"

There it was. His second mistake of the day. Never, ever try to sympathize with the suspect. Never try to make them feel light or trusted, not even a little. That was one if the basics of interrogating. However, I chose to answer this one. The answer could get him to soften up a little with me.

"Why do what? I have been more than patient for hearing what have I really done. Look, I don't even live around here. If you want to check my records, they're right in front of you." I said.

"Do not lie to me. Where you live doesn't prove that you're innocent. Give me one good reason to believe you."

"Just continue with your questions. I hope you find my answers to be helpful."

He looked at my face for a second and continued going through the files. Maybe he was trying to see the truth in what I said.

"So, now to the main questions" he continued, "Gimme an idea about what did you do yesterday. Right from the moment you woke up."

"I woke up at 4 a.m." I started.

"Where were you last night?"

"I was at a motel nearby."

"How did you travel?"

"I travel by bus. I even have the ticket if you want to check."

"You got a family?"

"No. I prefer to stay alone. It works better for me."

"Any reason for stopping by this town?"

"No. It was completely random. I reached here yesterday at nineteen hundred hours. I bought a ticket for the town ahead but chose to get off here. I specifically asked the driver to stop the bus near the edge of the town. I got down, tracked a motel and checked there at twenty - one hundred hours. After checking in, I went into my room, changed into my new clothes and slept. Woke up in the morning, checked out at around eleven and walked my way to the diner to have a brunch and was caught by you for no reason."

"So, where the hell is your luggage? You said you changed clothes. Where the fuck are your bags?"

"I travel light. I buy a set of clothes at a time. Dispose off the other."

"Any specific reason?"

"I just prefer it that way. Easier to manage."

"You don't have an official permanent address in your records."

"I don't really have a house. I like to travel."

"From here do you get your money?"

"I live on my pension. I withdraw the pension every month."

"So, let's get to the topic now. What is your relation with Mr. Matt?"

"What? I don't know anybody by that name."

"Don't play coy with me, you fucking moron. Answer my questions. Truthfully. I don't need to tell you what happens when an interrogation officer gets pissed."

"I just answered your question. I said I don't know anyone by that name. Ask me the same question a million times and I'll have the same answer."

"So far, what you've done is only confirmed our suspicion. Tell me about your career as a cop."

"It's all in the file. I think that should suffice."

Cisco was clearly irritated. He had never faced such a toughie. I could tell that from his face. He got up and left the room. Maybe to cool off. I still had no idea about why was I arrested. I still didn't know whether I would be out of trouble. I still had a lot to go through. Moreover, the actual killer was on the loose.