Edict 42

Chapter 7 - Frank

Frank sat in his office looking at the document on his desk. The younger detective Mark had been sitting there quiet for a while. Frank looked over at him, Mark’s head was down and there were many lines in his forehead. Sally had been in the Chief’s office for most of the day. She was adamant in pushing for the truth and getting him to reverse what had happened and not realease the information to the secret police.

Would it really work out though?

Frank’s hands were tied, he couldn’t go against the order that came in to pardoned Dr. Matters. Why now? He wondered. It all seemed related like there was more to this case than a madman rambling about the end of the world. All the information they had on him was turned in directly from the Chief of Police. The video, his notes and the polygram results it was like they were erasing a crime. When he made mention of the disappearance of Dr.Cox. It was written off as if the two weren’t connected and that didn’t sit well with Frank. His years of detective work told him that the two cases were connected.

“What do you think about this whole thing?” Frank asked his eyes falling upon Mark.

Marked looked up for a moment before adjusting his chair. “Everything seems strange even Sally was a bit shock about having to give in the information. We don’t have any of the information although I don’t think that much would be useful now. We didn’t have anything serious except he was being untruthful about his relationship with Dr. Cox lovers perhaps?”

“Maybe, did you watch the news yesterday?” Frank probed as his eyes fell on the newspaper.

The newspaper read, Dr. Matters revolutionary hero wrongfully charged by police officals for leaving his work place. What happens now, would Dr. Matters sue?

“Yeah, I saw what he said, he said he didn’t do it and then we got a message from the Chief that made it seem as though the entire matter was nothing but a that the police acted on.” Mark said.

Frank pushed the paper at Mark. “Nonsense in all my years I have never seen such a bigger scandal than this. How a man can come in guilty of a crime and then walks free? “You think what he was saying had some truth? That would make sense now with how things turned. Why else would they go to so much trouble to do all of these things?"

“Come on Mark, I thought you were better than that. There is no truth in that garbage he was spewing.” Frank paused and sat himself right back in the chair with his hands rested behind his head. “ There had to be something else though other wise I don’t think all of this would of happen.”

“You think, he is responsible for Dr. Cox’s disappearance?” Mark asked.

“More than likely he is. I would bet on it that he has some form of involvement. At least I can still investigate that case and that’s what I intend for us to do today.”

“What is the plan?”

“We are going down to Bostic Lab and conduct some checks on the employees.”

“Haven’t they been questioned sufficently before?” Mark asked.

Frank got up from the chair.“Yeah but it will give me a reason to get close to seeing how Dr. Matters will respond at his work place. Maybe even how the workers react, I have to go with whatever lead I have.”

A knock came on the door.

“Come in,” Frank said.

The door opened and in walked Sally her face enraged bordering with tears.

“Frank, Mark,” she said, stepping forward and then whispering. “I have been placed on leave for noncompliance.”

The words left her mouth but Frank struggled to comprehend them.

“I don’t want to linger long to get you guys into any trouble. I will leave work if you want to talk lets talk then.” She didn’t wait for a response and left.

Mark and Frank stared at each other in shock but said nothing as they left the office. Many of the staff watched them as Sally she cleared out the things in her office. She didn’t hide it one bit as she made it clear that she was suspended. The chief watched from the side and another man that Frank had seen the same day Dr. Matters was free.

Frank bit his lip and looked at Mark. What the hell was going on? He wondered in his mind.

#

Frank sat in the driver’s seat his hand tapping the steering wheel in the middle of traffic. This car had taken a beating but still managed to drive, it had protected him, one too many times from ending up dead. Mark sat on the passenger’s side looking out the window at the C 75s that were cleaning the side of the road and selling from various pop up shops waiting for an influx of people. At one point that use to be someone’s job but more and more of them had been taken away. In the end robots were more cost effective than humans. The contrast lied in the alleys, under bridges and the parks which were now littered with homeless people. There eyes always looked the same, soulless at least in that regard the robots couldn’t be detectives yet.

Hopefully, not in his time.

The car move forward until they were now in the heart of the city. The roads were busy and the streets were lively with people walking to and fro. Billboards advertised the launching of the new chemical processed foods. It flickered over and over again. The capsules looked smaller but they promised more protein and carbohydrates than the current ones.

Frank’s car connected to the billboard and the ads played through the car’s radio.

A woman’s voice spoke, “Introducing our Chemical Food Growth 2 or the CFG2 it replaces the last CFG. It’s better more sophisticated and packs more of a punch for you to get through your hard working day. It comes in a variety of colours, flavours and as a whole meal. The CFG2 will revolutionize the future. Look out for the launch this Saturday at the Food Expo Centre.”

The game schedule for this Saturday also flickered with key star faces. The Merdeles were probably going to win again they had won in each of their match ups for the last ten years.

“The Merdles have been dominant all year, now they face a challenger looking more dominant than before but that they have lost to the Merdles in every match over ten years. Can they turn the tide? Find out this Saturday?”

Frank lowered the radio and his focused shifted back to the road at the skyscrapers towering in the distance.

Mark coughed breaking up the silence in the car.

“What do you think about that new food that they’re bringing out?”

“I don’t know what to make of them yet,” Frank responded, “You weren’t there when we use to eat things the right way. Now that’s only left to those that have the money to purchase them.”

“Yeah, I remember you telling me that.”

“A single apple now is over a hundred dollars and that is not even a good one. We use to be able to get a handful of them for under a dollar, I miss those days.”

“Well, I heard that you can picked it up in different flavours so it’s a whole meals now instead of having to get two or three of them to get the complete flavor.”

“I didn’t like the last meal packs, those CFG to begin with but we don’t have much of a choice. Eat the bad food or starve. Funny though the people that made those are also where Dr. Matters work. Think he had a hand in that too?”

Mark laughed. “I hope not other wise we might all end up going crazy too.”

Frank chuckled in response. “That wouldn’t be anything new, our world itself seems on the verge of going crazy. Once we get the truth though they won’t be much to stop the law from being enforced.”

Mark nodded.

It wasn’t long before the Bostic Lab came into view and Frank made the left of the highway towards it. They drove to the security checkpoint and stopped as a security guard came out to them.

Frank rolled down his window and pulled out his badge. “I am Detective Hopper and this is detective Malone. We are here to conduct a review on an ongoing case.”

The security guard inspected the badges and nodded. “You’re here about Dr. Matters? They sent home the guard that was on duty that night for falsifying information. I hope you find the truth of the matter.”

He stepped back inside and raised the checkpoint weight that blocked the passage.

“Thank you.”

Frank and Mark pulled into the car park and Frank turned the engine off.

“Game face Mark, don’t let me down. Look for anything that seems off not only with Dr. Matters but anyone at all in the Lab.”

Mark nodded in response. “What do you think about that security guard being suspended?”

“Not surprised if the secret police has a say in what’s going on here. There has to be some form of connection.”

“You think this is some form of conspiracy?”

“Maybe, that’s why I decided to come back here. The chief of police didn’t want us to get much support on this case either. Look who’s assigned on a pontential missing person only me and you. How much media attention has it received since we started? None.”

The two men got out of the car and proceeded towards the entrance of the building. There appearances looked different compared to everyone else’s and it wasn’t long before they saw the string of whispering among the others as the men walked towards the receptionist desk.

“Good, day, I am Detective Hopper and this is my colleague detective Malone. We are here to conduct an investigation with some of Dr. Cox’s work mates. Frank handed the woman a list of names.

She took it and looked over each name on the list. Her eyes shifted from the paper to the screen in front of her as she typed something in.

“Most of the staff here are busy in engagements the only one that is available is Mia Crichlow. She is actually in the staff room at the moment as I recall on break.”

“Great, can you show me where to go?”

“Certainly.” She waved her hand towards a guard.

The guard stepped forward towards the desk.

“Jeffrey, can you escort the detectives to the staff room on the Floor 3?”

“Yes Miss Gibbs.”

“Thanks,” Frank said to her.

“You’re welcome.”

“Come with me gentlemen the guard said.”

The guard led them to the elevator and press the button and waited. Frank looked at the light flickering as it came down.

The door opened and inside was Dr. Matters.

Frank smiled in his head as he saw the man’s shock expression. This was what he wanted for him to see that he wouldn’t be giving up on him or believing his crazy tale.

“Dr. Matters,” Frank said, “ Would you be able to spare us some time today to ask a few questions about Dr. Cox?”

“No, I am sorry, I can’t spare anytime today.”

The men passed each other as they entered the elevator and he left. Frank looked at Mark and he returned the gesture while the elevator door closed.

It was good for him to see that his behaviour seemed confused and shocked.

The guard escorted them to the staff room and left.

Frank opened the door and there seated drinking a cup of coffee was a middle aged woman. She wore a coat like everyone else. She fiddled with a cigarette in her mouth and looked in their direction. Distress was written all over her face.

“Mia Crichlow?”

“Yes?”

“My name is detective Hopper and this is detective Malone. We were wondering if you can ask you a few questions about…”

Frank paused as he noticed her looking all over the room and at the cameras.

Her voice was jittery. “Can we, can we talk outside?”

Frank noted the camera,“Yes.”

“Good, give me one moment,” she said, while she wrote something on paper and stepped forward almost into Frank.

Frank could see the words on the paper now.

It read : “I saw Alina being kidnapped.”