Lieutenant Parsons: The Price of Envy

Chapter 3 - From a Funeral to a Briefing

12 hours later - Daithi Village, North of Glasgow

after 12 hours of driving on the motorway through the Scottish border, Evan finally arrived at what may have been the old MacMillan house where Riley grew up. he felt down as he entered the house to find a living room full of guests whom all happened to be both Riley's caretakers from the SAS and his past teachers and classmates from the elementary school he used to study in before moving to Hereford. Evan decided to find Col. MacMillan, "Evan...?" Col. MacMillan said as he walked over to him. "Colonel MacMillan..." Evan replied. "i just wanted to thank you for coming at such a short notice" MacMillan said to him. "well Riley is my best friend after all and i'm really sorry about what happened to him" Evan responded. "it's okay, Evan. you can go ahead and see him anytime before the funeral tomorrow" MacMillan said as he hugged him. "will do, sir" Evan replied with a pat on MacMillan's back before he was let go.

the next day, 0800 hours - the MacMillan house, Scotland

the day of Riley's burial began with a great deal of rain as his coffin was carried into a hearse escorted by British Army officers, eventually taking him to the church where he was blessed for one last time before being taken to the cemetery where his uncle placed an old stuffed rabbit into his coffin before he was carried into his final resting place which was next to the tombs of his father and mother. the funeral ended with officers firing off Lee-Enfield rifles into the air moments before everyone left, Evan and Col. MacMillan were the last two to leave before returning to the house.

on the following afternoon...

after most of the visitors left and returned home, Harrison and Field walked over to Evan before he could unlock the doors of the Mini, "Detective Sergeant Price?" Harrison said to him. "yeah, that's me" Evan answered, "Albert Harrison, MI6. this is Commander Henry Field" the two introduced themselves to him. "we were wondering if we can talk to you about Riley's suicide and why it happened" Harrison said. "well you can talk to me about it anytime" Evan replied. "okay...thanks, i need to inform you that the NCA's in need of a close friend of MacMillan's nephew to investigate this case and we might need you to come along" Field explained. "well that makes sense considering that fact that i'm now his only best friend who isn't even dead" Evan responded. "so are you going to participate in this investigation?" Harrison asked, "fine, i've been thinking of the same thing anyway" Evan answered. "right...if it's fine with you, we'll fill you in once you get to London as soon as possible" Harrison said. "alright, i'll head home first then i'll be there" Evan said, "that's good, have a safe trip" Field said. "i will" Evan replied before climbing into his Mini then drove off back to England.

two days later, 0800 hours - enroute to London

after repeating the same preparation procedure and leaving the Mini at his father's house, he sat on a window seat on the train to Paddington Station in London. throughout the entire trip, was his old friend and the two men who told him to meet them at New Scotland Yard. "all passengers please be advised, we are to arrive in our final stop in six minutes, thank you" the train announcement said as it approaches Paddington Station. Evan yawned and suddenly began to hold on to his bags. "London...Paddington Station" the train announced as it finally arrived six minutes later, Evan carried his bags out and called a cab as he left the station. "New Scotland Yard" he said to the cab driver, "New Scotland Yard" the driver imitated him then drove him off to his destination

1100 hours - New Scotland Yard

after his arrival at the very front of New Scotland Yard, Evan worked his way up to the chief inspector's office where Harrison and Field were waiting for him. once he entered in along with his bags, the meeting began with greetings then eventually prompting the chief inspector to begin the briefing

"so at least several days earlier, your friend, Riley MacMillan committed suicide in the residential area of Fuefuki, Japan. Interpol has already began investigating this but it may help if they can be guided by someone who has connections with the young man. we know you've been friends with him since your first year in White Cross so that's why we're assigning you on this case. in two hours, there will be a plane in Heathrow that will be leaving for Tokyo. once you get on that plane and land down, there will be someone waiting for you on the airfield then you'll be on the train going to Fuefuki at dawn. make sure you write down as much as you can on the suicide then pass it on to either Interpol or the local authorities, then return as soon as possible"

"is that clear?" the chief inspector asked Evan. "yes" Evan replied with a nod.