HIGHER TECH (Complete Novel)

Chapter 3 -Dean Roberts

      Officer Dean Roberts and his partner Kyle Fenner were near the old business district when they received the report of a disturbance at an old abandoned warehouse. So, he commanded the vehicle to adjust its destination to those coordinates. On the way they continued their conversation.

      "It's as if you no longer have any ambition. I can't understand why you won't do the detective work that you were born to do. You shouldn't have stepped down from your rank. Look at you. You're not happy. All this, just because you arrived too late on the scene. No one could have known that there was a young woman being held there. What was her name again. Was it Jean..."

      "No, it was Joanne Murphy and I should have known. Remember, there was a woman's leather jacket in the car we found that led us to the scene. Her ID was in the left pocket. Instead of dispatching officers, waiting for them to investigate and report back to me, I should have immediately led the team there. Time was wasted and because of that, a beautiful young woman is dead."

      "No one blames you for that Dean, you were just following protocol."

      "Yes, but I place part of the blame on me because I should have sensed the urgency of the situation and responded appropriately."

      "I still think you are being too hard on yourself. You were doing your best . True, things did not work out favorably that time, but think of all the people you have helped and could yet help."

      "Look, that's enough Kyle. I don't plan to remain here forever. I'll resume detective work again eventually. I just need time to think about the seriousness of what happened."

      "I don't know. It seems like you are just punishing yourself."

      "Well, maybe that is part of it too. I do have that right. Let's talk about this later. We're here."

      When the car stopped, they both got out and walked up to the gate.

      "It's still chained."

      "Yes, but loosely. Let's see if we can squeeze through."

      "Are you sure?"

      "Yes. We should get a warrant if we need to go inside the building but we will have a look around the yard to see if everything is okay. We need to know if anyone is hurt so we can help them."

      "Should we call for backup?"

      "No. It doesn't look like anyone is here. The place is so quiet. You can go around back from the left of the building and I'll go across the front and meet you on the other side."

      "Whatever you say boss." He quietly walked to the left corner of the building and proceeded to follow the left wall to go around the building. Dean went to the front and headed the other way around. When he made it to the right corner and approached the main entrance he could see a very dim light through the reinforced glass window. He thought that he might see more if he went around the corner and looked through the windows there. The first window was blocked, but the second one had blinds that were partly open. He peered through. It was a washroom. There was a young woman looking into a mirror. Her face was bruised. She picked up a towel and was drying her face when she looked at the door and said something. The door opened and a man entered. Dean took a step back from the window. He didn't want to be seen. The man was large and muscular. Very fit and seemed to have a military air about him. The way he stood as straight as an arrow and the way his hair was cut seemed to indicate, soldier. The man smiled and the woman returned the smile with one of her own. She walked out of the washroom and disappeared into the dim light beyond. It didn't appear that she was being held against her will. He didn't like that her face was bruised, but she probably wouldn't have reacted with a smile if that man was the one who caused the bruises. Maybe he was just helping her. Too many unknowns.