PASSIONS OF CRIME

Trouble Sleeping

One – Trouble Sleeping

"How long?"

Antonio Connor looked at the man in front of him. The cigarette had died out some three minutes ago, and since that time he'd been fiddling with his idle thumb and forefinger, nervously glancing at the clock every now and then. He'd been speaking blankly for most of the part, and wished to get it over with as soon as possible.

"I'm sorry what?" asked he, pretending not to have heard the question.

"How long has it been since the incident you mentioned?" asked Mr Trask, his tone not changing.

Antonio thought for a while. He had no idea what he'd mentioned, for shortly after mentioning that he was 'feeling sleepless' he'd lost track of his words.

"What incident?" he asked, hoping to continue the conversation without sounding foolish, "You must excuse me, I'd phased out a little."

"That's alright, Tony." said Trask, "You were mentioning how sleepless you've been lately."

That was it. He knew he hadn't phased out for too long.

"Yes, yes I've been that." he answered in a slightly lower tone than his normal.

"How long has this been happening?"

Now he understood the question. He fixed himself in the seat, still fidgeting with his fingers, and then looked ahead to answer what was being asked.

"You mean," began he, his voice slowly coming back to normal, "you mean how long it has been since I've had a good night's sleep?"

The latter nodded.

"God," said Antonio, rubbing his forehead, "let me think. How do I keep track of something like this, you know?"

"You must have a rough idea somewhere in your head, Tony."

"I don't know." he took his hand off his head and placed it on his thigh, "Seven, eight months, maybe."

"Are you sure?"

He thought again for a while.

"Maybe more," he finally replied, "but not less than that, I'm sure."

"So," said Trask after thinking for about two seconds, "you're saying you haven't slept in seven months?"

"I've slept, alright." came the reply, "Just not at a stretch. I sleep here and there in between afternoon naps and stuff, just not for too long hours."

"And how long do you think you sleep a day?"

Antonio exhaled in thought.

"Two hours." he finally replied, "Maybe a half hour more."

"You- you sleep two hours a day?" everything but this had been completely obvious to Trask so far. But this was something he hadn't expected in his wildest imaginations.

"Hey, don't look at me like that." Antonio laughed, "I managed to sleep for three once."

"And this is all when you're not stressed or exhausted?"

"Yes." came the short answer.

"So what happens when you are either of the two?"

"I, uh..." that was a difficult question to answer, "I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"I cannot recall very accurately."

"That's alright, I don't need accurate. Just a generalization would be okay."