MURDER GAME

Chapter 26

***

"How long has he been in there?" Roger stopped in front of the observation glass or one-side mirror, call it how you want.

Sebastian shrugged as he rolled his colorful cube around fingers, "Half an hour, maybe? But I won't let him out until he calms down. He slammed Derek in the middle of the station, for God's sake!" He pointed his head toward the hall that lead to the office part of the station.

Roger exhaled and put his hand on Sebastian's shoulder, "Son, one of our's was killed. As far as I and the law are concerned ... let our lad beat the shit out of Derek, slap him, kick him ... whatever actually! Just get some useful information, you two. We are running in a circle, don't you think? "

Yes we are... He moved away from the door. Roger walked past him and opened the armored, brown door wide, "I suppose you're ready to bring the suspect in?"

Milan was sitting at the table with a few buttons unbuttoned on his shirt and he just stared at Roger's question, like that was the answer. He got to his feet and stretched his neck.

Sebastian walked into a cramped room that had only a table and four chairs. The white tiles covered half the walls as well as the floor. Sebastian saw his reflection in the observation glass. He adjusted sleeves of his shirt, pulled out a chair next to Milan's and sat down, holding his Rubik cube.

A tall silhouette passed through the door, handcuffed and with a smug smile on face. Sebastian hadn't noticed so far that Derek was almost his height. Roger pulled out a chair for suspect and motioned for him to sit down. He weighed Milan's face and posture as well. Roger nodded as he closed the door behind him when he left.

"Well let's start ..." Sebastian opened his notebook and dropped his cube on the table. "First and foremost, did you know Chester Collins?"

Derek folded his face as if he wanted to ask them what do they think. Sebastian exhaled and raised an eyebrow, "I'm waiting ..."

"No." Derek leaned back in his chair and straightened his shoulders. Sebastian noticed that he often swallows saliva, "Are you thirsty?"

Derek didn't change his expression, he just kept blinking and looking blank at Sebastian.

"Listen, this is how things are ..." Milan leaned on his palms across the table and moved close enough to to feel the menthol scent of Derek's breath. "If you talk to us, you'll get both water and a lawyer."

"What is the purpose of a lawyer after I'm done speaking with you?" Derek arched his eyebrow up and let out a chuckle.

Milan bit into the inside of his cheek and blinked for a few seconds. Sebastian watched his muscles twitch. He took off his suit jacket and dropped it on chair behind him. He took his watch off his wrist and folded it into his jacket's inner pocket, "Derek, if you continue like this ..."

"I hear you threat too often ... What? Are you two playing a good cop and a bad cop?" Derek shook his head, "Man, Chester was a class for you guys!"

"So you knew him?" Sebastian watched his eyes glance at the right corner of the room for a second. He didn't move his gaze from Derek's jade eyes. "And?"

"Knew him, no. But, heard of him?" He made a quizzical expression "Yes, of course."

"Why would you hear about Chester?" Sebastian frowned completely puzzled at Derek.

"What? You don't know?" Derek chuckled while checking them both making a longer pause.

Sebastian raised his eyebrows, rolling his eyes, "Speak!"

"Dear Chester is well known on the street ... because he was a distributor. He even had his own cook, Scottie."

"Hey!" Sebastian tried to grab Milan by the forearm but he had already closed his fist and punched Derek in the face so that his head flew to his right. He went around the table and grabbed Derek by his jacket's collar, "Stop fucking around!"

To Derek's morbid smile that appeared after he took the punch, Milan clenched his jaw. He let go of his collar and pulled his chair right in front of his. "What are you murmuring about? Are you aware that this is an ex-cop we are talking about, hmm?"

"I say how it is. Old Chester was filthy like a shoe soles." Derek shrugged slightly.

"All right. You're going to the cell now." Milan got up and put his watch back on his wrist and put on his jacket, "Maybe that will help you to realize where you are." His clothes were neatly again.

Derek rolled his eyes. Sebastian wrote down few more sentences at his note quickly and followed them through the door.

"When will I get a lawyer?" Derek turned over his shoulder and looked at Milan, who immediately pushed him forward. "Walk more, talk less."

***

"Can you believe it?" Milan threw a stake on the table. "That bastard had the cheek to declare something like for a dead retired cop!"

"Milan ... You first stated that on the day we went to Ryan Walsh's work... Don't be a hypocrite."

"Seb, sometimes I have the urge to hit you." Milan grinned from ear to ear.

"Like you hit Derek today?" George threw the chip in the middle of the table, "Rising."

"You hit Derek?" Brandon's eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

"Turn the card over please." Milan pointed his head at the table, looking at his two cards in hand. "And bring some more gin."

"You know what was weird to me ..." Sebastian considered. "His irritation, which is in some way one of the few emotions he has shown."

"When did he show irritation?"

Sebastian drank a little gin, "When you told him that he's going to the cell. Maybe it was more than irritation. Maybe it was more like...boredom!?"

Milan raised his eyebrows "Boredom?"

"Yes, boredom. I think this is all a game for him."

George, staring at the chips on the table, shrugged, "So what if this is a game for him?" He looked up and considered Sebastian's expression, "It's only important to find evidence. Something valid and solid that can be strong evidence in court."

"I know George," Sebastian exhaled.

Brandon dropped a bottle of gin and sat down in his chair at a round wooden table. The pub is locked and the table is lightened by the only one lamp that is on the wall. This was their night, poker night. He turned last community card, "I'm giving up."

"Rising the stake." Milan threw two more chips in the middle.

"I'm giving up too."

"You too, George? I didn't expect that from you!" Sebastian chuckled, "I'm following."

"Are you sure, Seb?" Milan arched his brow.

"Difficult question."

Milan shrugged and dropped his two cards to the table, Queen and seven, which made a pair with a Queen on the talon.

"Oh ..." Sebastian agonized. He looked into Milan's eyes and dropped his cards. "Royal flash! So this is how you feel every time you beat me? Hmm, I could get used to it."

Milan laughed bitterly, "I wouldn't if I were you."

A\N

I hope you enjoyed in this chapter!

Derek is like...what? Who?

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