Beyond the Veil

Chapter 10

I followed Al; he had already informed me Alphonse was not his preferred form of address, into the police station. He had also informed me that I was to refrain from “haunting or whatever ghosts do,” and making an overall scene.

Not that I would, the urge to distract people who were trying to save lives was not even an existent one.

Al glanced at me over his shoulder and I gave him my most winning smile. My smile faded when he shuddered and turned away.

Humph…see if I’m polite for the rest of the day. I remained quiet as he led me over to his desk where a stack of papers nearly as tall as I was teetered on the edge. It took me a moment to realize there was someone behind the papers, giving the appearance of a human height stack of papers.

Al lifted the top off the stack, “Morning Joe.”

“M-m-m-morning Al.” The small wiry man behind the papers smiled up at Al through the cracked glasses the covered his bulging eyes.

Sitting the top of the stack down on his desk Al returned the smile congenially, “Anything for me this morning?”

“Y-y-y-y-yes.  J-j-Jeff wants to s-s-s-s-see you.” Someone called out his name and Joe bid a stuttering farewell before passing me by.

“Who’s Jeff?” Al’s brow furrowed and he didn’t answer, he just negotiated the labyrinth of cops and carts stacked high with white envelopes and manila folders.

He stopped in front of a door marked, Jeff Dawes, Commissioner. He quickly looked over my shoulder and seeing no one spoke in a low tone, “Let’s get something clear, I’m not a baby sitter and I don’t answer questions just because you asked, got it?”

“Yes sir,” I answered coolly.

He looked as if he didn’t believe me, but turned to open the door behind him just the same. The door opened to a Spartan office with only the base requirements of filing cabinets, a desk, computer, and two matching leather chairs to break up the bareness of the room. I studied the man behind the desk with interest as he stood to shake Al’s hand.

“Morning Detective, have a good night?”

He shot a look in my direction, “It was…educational.”

Dawes laughed, “Well then you’re going to love this. We have a new string of murders that are popping up as part of a serial killers spree.” He handed a folder over to Al, and pointed to a photo on the top, “This body was found two weeks ago,” He pointed to another, “This one week,” he pulled three more photos out of the folder in Al’s hands, “And these were found within this week.”

His expression thoughtful Al commented, “He’s accelerating.” Earning a nod from Dawes, “We think so and we need to catch him before more bodies start popping up. I want you to head down to the latest site and see what you get from it.”

“Can do, I’ll see you Commissioner.” Not bothering to salute he walked out the door leaving it open a moment longer than necessary for me to get through.

I guess he’s not totally without manners, it was nice for him to think to do that, unnecessary but thoughtful all the same.

I decided to do as he asked, being quiet that is, and followed him out of the building and into his car, keeping silent the whole way. It seemed he was deep in thought, and I had a vague suspicion that even if I had said anything I wouldn’t have been heard.