The Merderer

IV.

Tuesday.
September 22, 2038.

"You're still lying!"
Oliver slammed his fists on the wall. He was in a mugger's cell, interrogating him. "I caught you yet you're not telling the truth. Tell me the truth and I'll let you go, without bail," he said.

But the mugger didn't care. Heck, he was hardly listening. He looked bored. He knew that his case wasn't a big deal. He had almost stolen a motorcycle but had been caught by this low-life of a cop. Everyone in the little town, Ozark, knew Oliver M. Darling. He was a bit of a failure. After five minutes, Oliver went out of the cell. He looked tired and frustrated. He thought that if he could get the mugger to confess to him, that will give him a little something to boast about. It won't be much but at least it'll be something.

He went back to his little office which consisted of a ragged table and a creaking chair in the corner of the room. His job wasn't to interrogate, he knew that. But he was desperate. Today was a drag. He was the only one in the big office.

Everyone else had a computer on their desk and a dignified chair. Everyone except him. Oliver's father was once the head of the Ozark police department. But he was sacked, driven out of his duty in a very embarrassing way. Oliver hadn't wanted to be a cop, he had wanted something else. But dreams don't always come true. The stigmatization given to his father had been extended to him. In everyone's eyes, he was his father.

No one ever gave him the opportunity to prove himself. Because of that, he always tried to prove himself in everything he did. The bold choice of the colour of his clothes, the very sharp way he obeyed the tiniest of orders from his superiors. Orders, like being sent to buy food for everyone. Even the way he took a joke. First person to laugh, and the last to stop laughing.  With all this, no one still gave him a second glance.

At age thirty-five, Oliver had never had a girl-friend. He was considered a social misfit. He had never even been out of Ozark. And he had no friends. But, there was a man he considered a best friend. His name was Jacob Deacon. It was funny to relate the two of them together. Unlike Oliver, Jacob was known. He wasn't all that popular but at least he owned a car and a life. He was a psychiatrist. He wasn't married to anyone because he thought of a woman as a bondage. Jacob was a fine young man. He was one of those quiet handsome guys. He always minded his business, and people wouldn't have minded him either if not for the way he looked.

He was built unlike the scrawny Oliver, tall unlike the short Oliver, handsome unlike the bland Oliver. Jacob didn't want attention like his friend did, but he got it anyway. The way he spoke, walked, acted, commanded attention. People always wondered why Jacob was friends with Oliver. Even Oliver knew he was lucky to have such a friend.

Daniella breezed into the office. Oliver could never seem to take his eyes off the lovely Ella. She was the daughter of the new head of O.P.D; and she was beautiful. That was the only word to describe her. Just beautiful. She wasn't stunning. Her beauty was like a rose growing amongst other beautiful flowers. None of them could compare to the rose's beauty but because the rose never tried to expose itself, It was always overlooked. Daniella put much effort into covering her beauty. She didn't want any attention.

She just got back from her studies in Eibar, the city of crime. She had been called to bar at a very young age. At the age of twenty-nine, she was already an accomplished lawyer. A good one at that. She got her reputation in Eibar after putting a rich crime Lord in jail. Her father had told her to continue her work there but she felt her town needed more equipped lawyers and she was just the right woman for the job.

Walking in her usual plain clothes consisting of a cardigan and faded jeans with her hair packed in a neat pony tail; she moved in the direction of her Dad's large office. Oliver quickly stood to intercept her.

"Hi Daniella," he said, trying way too hard to smile. "How are you?"

Daniella being taller than him looked down at him. "I'm fine I guess," she replied in a puzzled tone, wondering who he was. She tried to go around him but Oliver continued talking so she stopped.

"I'm Oliver," he said that like he was the king of Kalahadrras or something.

"I know you very well. Maybe even more than you know yourself. I've been following you up since you left Ozark," he blurted out. "We attended the same high school here if you can remember." Ella still looked blank. "I even once taught you in government class." He beamed at his accomplishment.

"I'm sorry. I really don't know who you are and I have to go. Dad sent me here to get something."

She went into her dad's office and came out holding a journal. Oliver was still there. She wondered if she was being stalked.

"Are you a cop?" she asked just because she wanted to know what he was doing here alone.

"Yeahh," Oliver dragged. "I'm a good cop, even caught me a mugger yesterday."

He praised himself like that was a big deal. Ella didn't like associating with people who were full of themselves. The worst thing was that this guy had zero things to be proud of.

"You do know all the cops are having a get together at the bar downtown right?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. He didn't need to answer. She knew the answer already. This man was an outcast.

Oliver looked bewildered. "There's a get together? No wonder no one showed up today. I wasn't told about it." His bewilderment switched to sadness.

"Well I am sorry to hear that." She put down a hand to his shoulder. "I have to go now."

A broad smile suddenly came up his face. "They probably didn't tell me because they know i don't drink and who else is better to look after the office than yours truly," he said, shaking his shoulders in a comical way. He was actually trying to dance. This man is pathetic, Daniella thought.

"Goodbye Mr.... Err..." she stammered.

"Oliver. Its Oliver."

"Yeah that. Have a nice day looking after the office." Daniella hid a chuckle. Soon enough, Oliver was alone again. Sighing, he went back to his corner. His dad was the reason why he wasn't respected. The crazy old fool just had to collect a bribe. He blamed his mom for getting sick which gave his father a reason to collect the bribe. His mother was dead now. Dad had been let go for nothing.

He heard laughter coming from the cell. The mugger looked very amused.

"What's so funny buster?" he yelled across.

"You are," the mugger replied, laughing even harder. "Loser."

"What did you say?" Oliver asked. He had a dangerous gleam in his eyes.

"Are you deaf or something? I said YOU ARE A LOSERRR." He laughed harder.

Oliver grabbed a metal object and went over to the cell. "Call me a loser one. more. time."

The mugger loved dares. He stood, towering over Oliver even while in the cell. He bent to Oliver's ears and whispered. "Loser."

Oliver lost all sanity. He opened the cell and hit the metal object very hard on the mugger's head which wasn't easy to do since Oliver was a short man. But it did the same damage anyway. The man held his ears for about three seconds and fell. Only then, did Oliver realize what he had done. The mugger lay unconscious.

Hi guys. Well this chapter's purpose was to show you the life of a very important character. He has a lot to play in the future so don't look down on him too much. Please comment😔😔 I'm not sure whether I've captured your interest or not. Lemme know what you think. If you didn't like it, also let me know. I'm counting on you guys.
Don't forget to vote!

-iris.