Into the Unknown

Liam Robinson

We make a pit stop at Esme's since both Liz and I were starving. "Nancy cooks the best grilled cheese" I always say to the newcomers. They're never convinced.

Shortly after, we arrive back at the station. It's a small building, made of concrete to look sophisticated, and it has an arched entryway for decor.

Inside are our fellow detectives, policemen, watchmen, and citizens. Desks are cramped alongside one another with papers and manila folders sprawled all over the place. Not many people here care too much for organization. Maybe that's why there's so many cold cases that are about 5 decades old – Nobody here cares enough to protect the information even long after a crime or investigation occurred and was never solved. They just give up.

I take Liz's hand and lead her into my office. Realizing there's a yellow sticky note on my desk, I take a look at it: William Herman is back in town. Shannon called and said to come visit him at the Herman Residence.

"Looks like we're gonna go on another road trip, my dear."

She rolls her eyes at me. "Are you serious?"

"Completely." I hand her the note, and she glares at me. She doesn't want to go. "You're welcome to stay here if you like. I just think you'd maybe enjoy spending some quality time with me."

"Like I don't do enough of that already?" She says sarcastically. "Of course I'll come along. I haven't had a chance to talk to Shannon in quite a while, actually. Maybe we'll get to catch up."

"Maybe," he says, "we should go and grab a cup of coffee before we head out."

"You mean from the coffee pot in the break room?" She asks surprised.

The coffee that the station serves is some of the worst coffee I've ever had. It's too weak, but at the same time, leaves a bitter aftertaste. Usually, the only people here who are desperate enough to drink it are visitors or those who are on-the-call and too busy to stop at Esme's and pick up the good stuff.

"You know I'm not gonna have a cup of that, Liam." She tells me. "It's like drinking poison, I swear."

I raise my hands, letting her have her way. "Okay, okay. Chill. We don't have to get any then." I chuckle at her.

"Oh, by the way, I have to go down to Forensics for a second and give them the scarf to examine." She grabs the evidence bag full of lavender colored fabric that was sitting peacefully on my desk chair. "It'll only take a couple minutes. I'll be right back, I promise." And with that, she was out the door with a big bright smile glued to her face.

Fifteen minutes later, I meet her out at my car.

"You said you wouldn't be long," I say.

"Oh, it's fine. Barbara was having a ball because we found something for her to be busy with. Said she'll be as thorough as possible." She tries the passenger door handle. "Um, excuse me sir. Can you unlock the car by any chance?"

I tease her, enjoying the moment. "Somebody needs to say please."

"Liam, come on. We're late."

After about a minute of waiting there stubbornly, I finally decide to unlock the door, giving in to her lovely bossiness.

I get in after her, start the car, back out of the parking spot, and make our way to the Herman's house.

Liz decides to turn on the radio to "combat the silence" as she likes to call it. Personally, I'm not much of a talker in the car. Never have been. But it must not be very common because people always look at me with the oddest expressions whenever I'm the silent one on the road. In all truth, I'm quite the chatterbox normally.