Vindicate

CHAPTER 4

   Detective Hawkson was frustrated, no, he was at his wits end because of one single person. It had been two weeks already since Denzel escaped his custody and he still had completely no idea where she was. He had turned over every single rock and searched everywhere yet he had not even the slightest clue as to where she was. It seemed like she had vanished off the face of the earth.

   Dreading his upcoming meeting with his boss, he was trying to put together a convincing case to save his ass when he heard the commotion. Dismissing it as a difficult arrest, he resumed his work. After ten minutes of the commotion not going down, he went out to find what the hell the noise was all about. He went to the lobby ready to lambaste the source of the noise but he was definitely not prepared for the sight that greeted him.

   Sitting right there, on one of the lounge chairs was the bane of his existence. He had to rubbed his eyes a few times just to be sure he wasn't hallucinating. However, there was no mistaking it. That woman seated there like she owned the world was truly Denzel Blackwaters.

    Finally noticing his presence, Denzel’s face lit up in a wide smile as she walked towards him.

“Hey, just the man I've been looking for! How’s my favorite person in this building doing?” she greeted.

“Quit the crap. What the hell are you doing here?” Riley asked.

“That’s no way to treat your best friend, Riles. Anyway, these two weeks without you were so boring so I decided to pay a friendly visit.”

   Riley rolled his eyes at this. Who did she think she was fooling here?

“By the way, aren’t you forgetting something here?” Denzel said twirling a pair of handcuffs she had managed to nick from an unsuspecting cop.

“Shit” he muttered. He seemed to have forgotten that the woman he was currently having a conversation with was the same one who had escaped his custody. Quickly grabbing the cuffs from her he slapped them around her wrists which she had held out willingly.

“Denzel Blackwaters, you are under arrest.”

“Took you long enough Riley-boo.”

Leading her to the interrogation room, Riley made sure to keep a close eye on her. He knew she wouldn’t bolt on him. After all, she wouldn’t relinquish her freedom if she didn’t have any business here. However knowing her past record, he didn’t want to take any chances.

Once she was seated and Riley was sure she was well restrained, he walked to the head of the department's office and entered.

“Detective Hawkson, you had better have some good news for rudely interrupting me.” Major Cornwall growled looking up from his computer.

“Sorry about that Major. Just wanted to tell you we have Blackwaters in our custody, Sir.”

“Why didn’t you come in earlier?! That’s the best news I’ve heard from you in weeks” Major Cornwall boomed, standing up and slinging his muscled arm around Riley’s neck.

They went to the interrogation room and were just in time for the start of Denzel’s interrogation. They watched as Officer Codhra slowly lost her calm due to the the stubborn nature of the prisoner. Every question she asked was answered with either a blank stare or a sarcastic answer.

“What the hell is she playing at?” Riley wondered. She was the same person who had come here herself so why the hell was she being uncooperative.

“Look here sunshine, we both know you are wasting your time here. As I said earlier, I’m only going to talk to Detective Hawkson so be a sweetheart and go get him alright?”

It seemed this was the last straw for Officer Codhra as she stormed out of there.

Thrusting the case files onto him, she growled, “I can’t do this shit no more. She’s fucking annoying!!”

“Well, what are you still doing here? You heard her. She’ll only talk to you so go! Find out whatever she wants.” Major Cornwall yelled.

“Yes Sir.”

Detective Hawkson walked in there not knowing what the little she-devil wanted. He however did know this; whatever she wanted was not going to be good.

“Oh there you are! What kept you so long? I thought you knew I’d only speak to you.”

   “Well I’m here now, ain’t I? So start talking.”

Denzel rolled her eyes at this; did he have to be so straightforward? Sheesh... Anyway, getting down to serious business, she started, “ As you already know, I was minding my own business when I was unlawfully arrested.”

Ignoring the scoff from Detective Hawkson, she continued “ I was later told by your agents that it was for the theft of a Van Gogh and the attempted murder of someone. Imagine my surprise at that considering the fact that I wasn’t around at the time of the crime.”

“ Your point is?”

“My point is I’m innocent and someone is framing me.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it”

“You want proof? Here.” she said pushing some files toward him.

He looked skeptically at her wondering what on earth she was up to now. Looking through them, he saw that they included pictures of her doing random stuff at different places, plane tickets and a whole lot of other miscellaneous stuff.

“What are these supposed to be?” he asked her a frown marring his face.

“They are my alibi during the time the crime was said to have occurred. The phone numbers on that sheets will verify what I have said. And believe me when I say I can’t bribe these people into possibly lying to cover up for me.”

Riley didn’t look one bit convinced at all that Denzel had just said but something pushed him to ask “Let’s just say what you are claiming proves to be true. What then?”

“I’ll willingly help you catch the real culprits. No catches or tricks whatsoever.I have resources and expertise your best officers don’t. Trust me, with my contacts and knowledge of the art world, you’ll have a greater of finding your guys. You’ll just have to sign this contract dictating the terms and conditions of our agreement.”

Of all the things he thought she would say, he didn’t expect this.

“What’s in it for you? I find it hard to believe there’s nothing in it for you.” he commented.

“Nothing except the satisfaction of finding the people who dared framing me and of course,the joy of rendering service to this remarkable bureau of yours. I’ve always wondered how working with the police would be like.” she replied with a twinkle in her eyes.

Riley called bullshit at this. He so didn’t believe the crap she was spitting but the decision of accepting her help or not was not in his hands.

“I’ve heard whatever you have to say. You’ll hear from me later.” he said signaling the officers to return her to her cell. She stood up and her hands were cuffed. She offered no resistance as she was being led out. Suddenly at the door, she stopped and turned to look at Detective Hawkson.

“ Dalexa Plaza, 20th August, 14:00 GMT. Consider that my parting gift. You know where to find me when I’m needed.” she smirked and walked out the door.

Kaptaine!