Of Lights and Shadows (Book 4)

49) Of Lights and Shadows

With quick steps, Dastardious bounded from the apartment building and slid quickly into the waiting back seat of the taxi. The driver turned to face him, wide-eyed and slightly pale.

'Did you see what happened?' he asked, pointing out the window to where a small crowd had gathered. 'A body just flew out of window and hit the ground. Smash! She was definitely a goner. But geez, what a way to go. Did you see?'

'I know about it,' Dastardious replied as he closely watched the crowd. A few of them had mobile phones out and some of them were talking on them, it wouldn't be long before the police arrived.

'Put your foot down and get me to Central Park. And park as close as you can to the Lake,' Dastardious ordered, settling back into his chair and closing his eyes. The scene of Mulligan's death was replaying before his eyes, everything repeating in slow motion, the colours more intense than they had been, the sound of the gun going off clearer than it had sounded. He was running on adrenalin, without that he would probably take a nosedive out of consciousness, and it was taking place of his drug. He needed a few minutes to recuperate and get back to normal.

He wasn't exactly sure why he wanted to go to the Lake, just that it sounded like a good idea. There was one more piece of business to finish before the path was clear for him to start anew.

Five minutes later, they pulled to a stop on the side of the road. Beside them stretched the lawn that led down to the Lake, around its base clustered the familiar forest.Dastardious watched the view before him silently, far behind him he could hear the sirens of police cars patrolling and looking for him. By now someone would have arrived at Jordan's apartment and discovered Mulligan, Susan would have a ball covering the story. He couldn't wait for the chance to read it, to see what they all thought.

'You getting out, mate?' the cabby asked him, looking in the rear view mirror to see him. 'I wanna go home.'

Silently Dastardious paid him and stepped out into the fresh air. The grass seemed to sparkle from the dew that had already fallen; the lawn was empty of people. He started to walk.

A little while later he finally arrived at his destination and stopped. A body with its back facing him sat on the end of the bench that sat by the edge of the lake, watching the stars and lights above reflecting off the water. Walking quietly, he reached the bench, sat down next to Alice, and crossed his legs.

'Detective!' Alice cried happily, a giant smile spreading far across her face. 'I didn't expect to see you out quite so soon. Are you here to arrest me again? I'm just curious; you didn't do so well last time you did.'

'No, I had no problem arresting you the first time,' Dastardious told her as he watched the picture of serenity before him. A duck paddling along broke the stillness of the water.

'Oh, yes, that is true. You did that part quite well,' Alice replied, her smile decreasing slightly in size but still staying. 'The problem was no one believed your valuable evidence,' she laughed.

'But you haven't answered my question yet, Detective' she told him reproachfully. 'Are you here to arrest me again?'

Dastardious shook his head. 'I'm no longer with the police, so there is no need to call me 'Detective' any longer. My first name is James, call me that instead,' he invited.

'Oh? What happened? I hope you didn't leave on my account? I would hate to know that I lost you your job.'

'It wasn't you; it was just time to leave. Way past the time to leave,' he explained.

'In this case, I take it then that you no longer have an interest is seeing that all those poor little children that died receive justice anymore?'