The Second Layer

Chapter 7: Ryan

Chapter 7: Ryan

Ryan was in his car driving towards a meeting he'd set up with an informant he sometimes used when his cell phone rang. Flipping it open, he wasn't surprised to see the name on the caller ID. For an instant he considered not answering, but finally he hit the button to take the call.

"Hello Carl," Ryan said.

"Care to tell me why you're not at home? You cared about Anne too much to be with another woman so soon, and I know you well enough to know you're not the type to go to a bar and try to drink yourself into a stupor. And no insult, Ryan, but I don't think you actually have any friends other than me, so it's not that either. So explain this one to me," Carl told him firmly.

"I decided to just drive around for awhile. Thought I could use the fresh air," Ryan answered smoothly.

"Really? Because I thought you might be looking into Anne's case," Carl replied, his tone accusatory. "Look Ryan, we've already talked about this. You have to let the Department handle it. You were put on three weeks personal leave for a reason, so you can get yourself together. What happened would've shaken up anyone. And I can understand your obsession with catching the bastard who killed her. But even if the Department had put you back on active duty, you know they wouldn't have let you anywhere near this case. Your judgment is compromised, Ryan. We will catch the Two Star Killer, I give you my word on that. But you have to trust in us to do our jobs, and bring him down. You're too close to this one Ryan. You need to back off."

"If I were looking into Anne's case, you might be right. But since I'm only going for a drive, you've got nothing to worry about," Ryan stated.

"Don't bullshit me, Ryan. I've known you too long. You're not just out for a drive. So tell me where you're going," Carl demanded.

"Did you really stop by my place?" Ryan asked after a short pause.

"Yeah, I did. I got off duty a couple hours ago. I was going to surprise you, figured we could watch the game together, hopefully take your mind off things. Imagine my surprise when I get here to find your car's gone," Carl answered.

Ryan just stared off into the distance for a moment as he drove, taking deep breaths, trying to sort through the thoughts in his head. "I can't let her go, Carl. Every time I close my eyes, I see her face. I can't just sit back and do nothing. I mean, I know you think I should, the Department thinks I should, but I just can't do that. I have to find the bastard that killed her. I'll never know peace until I do. And I don't know, maybe even hunting him down won't give me peace. But I have to try. There's nothing else for me."

"And there's nothing I can say to change your mind?" Carl pressed.

"No," Ryan responded, putting all the certainty that he felt into his voice. "Nothing will change my mind. Not about this."

"If you screw this up Ryan, you're risking your career, but... I understand. In your place I'd probably do the same. Just... Promise me you won't step on the Department's toes on this, and that if you should find out where this guy is, you'll let us take care of it," Carl said.

"I promise," Ryan told him. He hated lying, but he didn't have a choice. He got the feeling Carl wouldn't leave him alone without the promise. "Anyways, it'll be awhile before I go back home so go out and have fun tonight, alright? I'll call you later."

Before Carl could reply, Ryan hung up and then turned his cell phone off. He didn't want any more interruptions, at least for a little. He didn't really blame the Department for putting him on personal leave after he got out of the hospital. He'd made no attempt to hide the obsession he felt for this case, for catching the man who'd killed Anne. And so long as his mind was fixated on this, it could well affect his performance on any other cases they assigned him. And in the end it actually helped, because it let him devote all of his time to finding the man he'd faced during that short time.