The Serial Negotiator

Everyday Life (2)

Chapter 6: Everyday Life (2)

“That was quite an interesting conversation you had with your superior.” Chase said while not knowing if it was impressive or disrespectful the way Bella had acted just now. He would never even imagine acting the same way with his own superiors.

“Just by looking at you I can tell that you’re comparing us again.” Bella remarked after simply glancing at the man. She couldn’t hold eye contact for long but she needs just a glance at a person to figure them out.

“Impressive observational skills. Then I’ll say an observation of my own. You don’t get along too well with her do you?” Chase asked thinking he had hit the nail on the head but to his dismay that was far from the truth.

“Actually Rose is my closest acquaintance from here. We get along extraordinarily well.” Bella confessed; regardless of what other people thought that was the actual truth.

“Really? But you two seemed to be aiming at each other’s throats just seconds ago.” Chase couldn’t well understand this type of behavior with your ‘closest’. He also found it weird to say they are close but call her an ‘acquaintance’ instead of a friend.

“Don’t get fooled by us yelling at each other. We’re just being completely straightforward and utterly honest. It’s the only way we know how to communicate with each other. I like that about her.” Bella spoke words of praise for the woman she had just kicked out of her office several minutes ago. It was a strange sight to see.

“So you like her?” Chase asked once more to confirm. Such a love hate relationship seemed like something he wouldn’t be able to do.

“Of course I do. I told you, she’s my closest. I also really respect her; she doesn’t beat around the bush when she wants something. She clearly states her motives and doesn’t try to manipulate me like the others do.” Bella said, this might have been the first time she’s spoken about Rose to anyone.

“Manipulate you?” Chase asked confusedly. He didn’t know there were people trying to do that to her.

“You don’t know? The same hounds you work for are those that hire me to do their dirty work. I thought everyone at station knew that already.” Bella explained briefly.

“I didn’t know that…” Chase was the head of police but even he wasn’t so acquainted with all the inner workings of the police force. He had no way of knowing information no one told him about. Nor was he the type of person to actively go and seek information on his own. He only knows what he needs to know and stays clear of things he shouldn’t. He is the prime example of obedience.

“I guess the hounds have their own way of deciding who gets to know what…” Bella said thinking about the situation. It was bizarre for the head of police to not know of something that affects him as well.

“You said Rose was your superior, but she didn’t seem to have any control over your actions…” Chase thought out loud, he couldn’t comprehend why despite holding the higher position Rose had said ‘if I could fire you, I would’. That would clearly indicate she doesn’t hold the authority to make such a decision. She also said that the negotiator had been avoiding her for a week. Was there no punishment for disregarding your duties and not reporting to your superiors in her line of work? Chase didn’t know what exactly to make of this situation. He had overheard a conversation he shouldn’t have. Now his head is filled with more questions than ever before.

“Oh that… Well Rose is my ‘superior’ but doesn’t actually tell me what to do. If we are talking about authority she is in no position to punish me either. She’s just the figure I turn to when getting my paycheck each month.” Bella said in her own words. It was a strange relationship to have with your boss.

“It seems like I can’t begin to understand what’s happening right under my nose…” Chase began realizing that it wasn’t just Bella that was hiding things from him. It was the higher ups in headquarters as well. Maybe even other people he didn’t know of. Planning and scheming behind his back and only telling him what he needs to know. It was disgraceful…

“I guess so.” Bella seemed to understand what the man in front of her was thinking. She also didn’t receive much information from the higher ups besides what was absolutely necessary for her. She could sympathize with the man for once. So she didn’t mind revealing a bit more to him. Maybe it was just in spite of the higher ups or because of her personal preferences but she wanted share a bit more. “Did you know… They text me the place I need to be. That’s all they do. No prior information on the suspect besides one I find on my own. They just tell me where to go when there is a situation to be dealt with.”

“They don’t tell you anything?” Chase was as equally confused by that statement as he was to the ones before that.

“Yes, I basically have the freedom to do as I see fit. I’ve never gotten a complaint for what I do either… Well besides Rose, but she complains for everything so it doesn’t count.” Bella said and smiled lightly. She’s never told that to anyone before. Why was she speaking so much now?

“Hey… what exactly do you do when you go inside the room with the criminal?” Chase asked thinking about all the dangerous situations the young woman has been in until now.

“I talk to them. That’s all.” Bella said without even taking a second to think about it.

“Aren’t you scared they might hurt you?” Chase asked a more important question, the woman in front of him looked so fragile and easy to break. Yet she was so unbelievably brave or rather reckless to walk head first into danger.

“Now at all… I’m okay with whatever happens.” Bella didn’t seem to care much about her own safety. She spoke with such indifference about the topic at hand that it seemed like the most boring thing in the world.

“How are you okay with it?!” Chase on the other hand was becoming agitated, he couldn’t understand why she was so careless with her own life.

“Even if I die nobody will miss me, neither search for me, the higher ups will also find another negotiator to do their dirty work--!”

Suddenly Bella’s hand was grabbed, Chase pulled her towards himself as they were sitting on the couch next to each other.

“I care… So don’t speak as if your life has no meaning…” Chase spoke with such a serious expression that the entire mood in the room changed in the matter of seconds.

Bella was so caught off guard by that sudden statement... She kept silent for a while. Chase didn’t break off eye contact with the woman and she couldn’t either. Something about the sincerity with which he had said those words made Bella a bit flustered.

After a short while of uncomfortable silence Bella spoke once again:  “I suppose… I have one reason to live a bit longer… I guess…”

She couldn’t bring herself to mock the man’s seriousness. So she replied in a sincere way as well. Something was off… She could hear her heartbeat clearly in the silence of that room.

Bella had no idea what that meant at the time…