THE CRACKS

Bovaquik* [3]

It slid down the window. Slowly, as if daring nature to fasten it's pace. Like the anger of a beast it descended on roof tops, beating down with a chant of unsung potency.

It had been raining heavily since the break of dawn and there was no sign that it would stop. Instead, the News had carried it two hours ago that there would be a storm. Something close to a mini hurricane. Luckily this part of Coast city had been spared to just a heavy downpour.

A frustrated sigh escaped Donatello's lips as he stood up from the chair beside the window. He had spent half of  his morning idly gazing at the falling rain. But now, even the melody the rain made could no longer distract his troubled mind.

Something was wrong.

It didn't help one bit that he had woken up from a dream that Abraham O'Neil from the previous day was pointing a gun to his head while he slept.

Starting with the first thing that came to mind, he wondered off to check the security of his house.

The house was formal in every sense; from the basic bedroom, small kitchen, to the basic chair and table, couch, bed and little pieces of furnitures scattered around. And the pale beige coloured walls. No picture frames hung on the wall.

Sometimes, the house felt lonely. Not that he cared, plus he never entertained any visitors since he moved in. All the occasions had him visiting the other person's house.

The locks were secure. No signs of an actual or attempted break in. The security cameras caught nothing but the empty apartment and heavy downpour outside.

But that still did not settle the feeling in his gut.

Trusting his instincts had never let him down. Not even in the crime field.
Working in the field came with a price that he could never let his guard down and a constant reminder that he was never safe.

The hairs in his skin stood when he heard a crash at the other side of the house. Without wasting another minute, he grabbed his pistol from the bedside table.

With slow silent steps, he made for the direction he had heard the noise. His gun was perfectly aimed in front of him.

He found his books scattered on the floor and a broken book shelf in the middle of the mess. The old shelf had broken due to wear and tear. Slightly disappointed, he put on his gun's safety and began arranging the place. It would have been better to have found someone trying to break in. Then this unsettling feeling would be validated.

His heart almost cascaded to his stomach when he heard a squeak behind him. Spinning around and not finding anyone made him reach for his gun with lightening speed.

Wait a minute.
"Shit!" He breathed in relieve when he recognized the squeak as his ringtone.
This needs changing.

Retrieving his phone from his pocket, a frown appeared on his face as he stared at the unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Evening Donatello. How's it going?" The voice sounded familiar but Donny couldn't place his finger on it. Only a few people called him by his full name.

"Um...excuse me. Where do you know me from?

"My apologies. How does 'it's show tiiime' sound?"

"Jay? No way bro! I haven't seen you in ages!" Donny exclaimed happily, immediately remembering the catch phrase he always used. Remembering his old pal brought back memories. Both the good ones and....not so good ones.

"Its Jotra to you D-boy. And yes, it took you long enough to figure out who I was"

Something had changed in his friend's voice. It was more mature than the last time they had spoken. But he could hear him smile through his voice.

"Whatever rocks your boat Jay"

"I am sorry to call you on short notice but we need you here in Bovaquik right away" Jotra informed, with his voice taking on a professional tone.

"What?!" Donatello asked confused.

"It's the case of The Nutcracker i'm afraid"

"But...wait what?!" Donny asked again confused.

Jotra sighed "It's a bit complicated but you'll get the details once you get here"

"IF....I get there" Donatello corrected. "Look Jay, I already made it clear the minute I left HQ. I can't go back."

"Our stats are clear this time. This could be ground breaking...."

"I just can't" Donny interrupted running a hand through his hair with frustrated sigh. "We both know this, so please don't ask me to"

There was silence at the other end before Jotra spoke.
"If it makes any difference, she might be connected to the case"

"Who's connected to the case?" Donny asked, already knowing where this was going.

"It's Anna you peepsqueek!"

"I'm still not coming" Donny told him.

"A car is on the way to you. HQ is expecting you"

"Jay I said..."

"Failure to comply and you'll be detained" with that, the line went dead.

Except for the heavy rain outside, the room would have been dead quiet. Contemplating on his options -if Jotra and HQ had left him with any-, left Donatello with a startling realization.
He would be going to Bovaquik.

Not that it was a big deal but his mind kept wandering back to the reason why he had left in the first place.

All these years he had tried to suppress the memories but....now? He's still gonna suppress it. Period.

This was the unsettling feeling he was feeling all morning. Bovaquik meant trouble.

A honking sound from outside disrupted his thoughts. His ride had arrived as Jotra had said. It was a sleek black Honda with the Logo of the crime force crest on the side.

With the scattered books long forgotten, Donatello headed for his room to begin packing his luggage for the long journey ahead.

Moreso, the Nutcracker case got him excited and shivering at the same time. Five years ago, the case had met a dead end. If Jotra had said there was a new lead then it had to be good.

With one last look at the mirror, he donned on his black shades that matched perfectly with his leader jacket and denim jeans.

It's show tiiime!

AN
A sincere apology for the late update. 🙏🙏Please let me know what you think about my story. And vote too💋.