What A Fool Believes

Chapter 1: Simple Man

Brooklyn, New York City

June 5, 1998

The Journal

Daniel could recall every time he's been through this. Sitting in his Boss's office, getting shouted at once again.

Daniel Doobie, a young boy of just twenty-four years. A well kept individual, who's very organized. From the outside, he's just your normal college student. But underneath, this boy is more complicated. Under bandages of time are the mental and emotional scars that have left him psychologically confused.

Daniel never showed this side... It sheltered secrets of his past and present. For him, he wanted to seem normal, someone of no importance. Being a journalist made this especially difficult.

"Daniel! Are you listening to me?"

His boss was shouting and waving a hand in front of him. The man's voice sounding like the embodiment of frustration.

"What the hell were you thinking!? Trying to harass the story out of a witness! Not only that, but in her own home!? "

The man collapsed in his swivel chair, taking off his glasses to massage his temples. He was an older man. Short, with a bit of weight on him. He loosened his tie, after feeling his face heat up with his anger.

"I will not tolerate this, none of it!"

The man slammed his fist onto the table, looking up and glaring at Daniel. The boy showed no signs of fear nor worry. Seeing Daniel's claim attitude pushed the man's frustration further, as droplets of sweat arose on his forehead.

"The next time you anger someone with a potential lead... You're the one who's going to be delivered to the district attorney's office with my shoe in your ass!"

The man motioned for Daniel to leave. Once he did, he pulled out the drawer to his desk. Rummaging through files and paperwork he finally found what he was searching for. A flask, something to help him forget his troubles.

Daniel opened the door, taking one last look behind him and seeing the man finish the contents in the flask. He walked out the door closing it behind him slowly, collecting his thoughts in a soft sigh.

"My boss is an alcoholic... What's to like about this opportunity?"

Daniel mumbled to himself with a roll of the eyes, as he headed back to his desk to pack up his things. The incident causing all the fuss, wasn't really Daniel's fault. It was a case of "Wrong Place, Wrong Time". An elderly lady, one claiming to be an eyewitness to what could have been a robbery plotted out by a mysterious group. One who's been robbing banks in Manhattan.

This elderly lady though, had seen absolutely nothing or from what she could remember. Having Dementia, the old woman forgot she had invited Daniel inside, mistaking him as a marauder breaking into her home. In which she only worsen the situation, telling police Daniel had threatened to take her exotic mixed breed cat, Mr. Mister.

"Cheer up, Daniel! We have those unreliable witnesses at times. Interviews are like a roll of the dice. You win and get the story, while other times you lose and end up with nothing."

A girl from across the office popped her head up from a typewriter. She had alluring red hair, looking like that of satin. She wore no makeup, but she made up for that with her natural beauty and her luminous jade eyes.

This young girl of just twenty one, is Haley B. Work partner of Daniel's. She was there the first day he began working for the publisher. Since then, they've become close friends.