Unbelievable
1296 Words
*Jake POV*
The special agents quietly follow me around the race track. The white markings of where the president’s guards and the shooters died are still visible on the ground. I can’t help but hurt for such a loss. I remember every face because I was there when the forensic pathologist bagged all of them.
“Are you okay, Sir?” one agent asks. “I mean, Jake,” he quickly corrects himself.
I nod my head. “Call me weak but I revere life. They were fellow humans only performing their duties. Sons, daughters, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, parents, friends. They mattered to someone.”
I am completely aware that they are the best of the military and probably used to their fellow soldiers dying. They would probably find my sentiments about human life pathetic. The beauty of it is that I don’t have to impress any of them, nor am I desperate for their respect.
They all exchange look before one of them mounts up the courage to ask.
“You are not ARF, are you?”
I can’t help but chuckle. The ARF agents are rumoured to be tough, distant and hardly touched by such things. After having met Tom and Len, I must admit that whoever started that rumour was not very far off.
“I already told you that.”
I linger around the shooters point of entry for a good twenty minutes and the day of the attack starts playing like a movie in my head.
“What are you thinking?”one asks curiously.
For some reason they are very interested in knowing about me and what I think.
“This is the only place in this whole court that is not covered by cameras.”
“Unfortunately,” the agent we found here responds with a depressed tone.
I guess it must be a lot of pressure and depressing to not have answers when tasked with a mission to find the person or people behind the attempted assassination of the head of state.
“It’s also only been like that for the past two weeks,”I add and they exchange surprised looks. I guess they missed that part.
“I worked here, remember?”
They let out loud sighs before one exclaims, almost relieved.
“Oh, yah!”
I am learning that incompetence is another thing that is not tolerated in their field. There is the toxic competitive culture I am hoping to discourage while they are working with me.
“There used to be a camera covering this corner specifically.”
“And?”
Now they are all looking eagerly at me.
“Routine service of the software. The servicing tech recommended changing of all the outside cameras.”
“On it,” one agent is already on the phone by the time I finish.
I must admit that these guys are really efficient. It takes less than twenty minutes for them to get the details of the servicing company and the technician, who, unsurprisingly had an accident and died a day after completing the job. We already have his bank statements, autopsy reports and someone is already interviewing his spouse.
“Gentlemen, would you like to see my room?”
“Sir..should we not maybe thoroughly check out the servicing company,” one hesitates and I fully get them. They are all about duty, it’s their nature.
“Again, it’s just Jake. I really don’t mind you disagreeing with me because I don’t expect you to follow me blindly.”
“You have something we missed,” he concludes.
I shrug my shoulders and leave them standing and head back inside. “Maybe.”
They are all right behind me by the time I reach the building. Leticia reluctantly leads us downstairs where she opens the door for us and quickly disappears. I can’t help but get flashbacks of the day she and George crushed my heart.
“You and the receptionist…” They fire questions the moment Leticia is out of sight.
It is obvious to anyone that there is no love loss between us.
“Ex fiancée.”
“That explains a lot!”
“I don’t blame you, man. She is okay but Miss Asherway is on another level.”
I shake my head, amused at their assumption.
“I did not cheat, she did.”
“Yah right.”
“I was too poor,” I explain. The whole incident strangely not hurting like I thought talking about it might. Maybe having Tanya and no longer really poor has a lot to do with it.
“You are serious…”
They still don’t believe me and I don’t know if I should bother trying to convincing them any further.
“Yep, enough about me, what do you see?”
“You stayed here for months?”
These guys are more curious about me than the reason I brought them here.
“Better than the streets. That’s where I was before getting a job here and this room was everything.”
“You went undercover as a homeless man!”one exclaims and a whole new conversation starts.
“I love my job, but that’s where I draw the line!” one says and others agree.
“Did someone at least bring you food?” another questions.
“I was not undercover, I was homeless,” I remind them and they actually laugh at me.
“Dude, no one believes that. You might not be ARF, but you are something.”
I shake my head, giving up on trying to prove that I am no agent.
I hear a cupboard closing in the next room and go there, leaving the agents discussing how small my room was and which agency I am probably from.
“Jake...” an embarrassed old man says the moment the door opens.
“Bra Steve. It’s good to see you. How have you been?” I am so happy to see him, I can’t help myself but run into his arms. Out of all the people here, this man kept me sane. He unfortunately fractured his leg weeks before his daughter turned on me.
“My leg still hurts but I am better and thankful to be able to walk again,” he responds while avoiding making any eye contact with me.
“Bra Steve….”
“The guys told me what Leticia did to you. Please accept my sincere apology for the way my daughter treated you. I did not raise her that way. My wife and I are so ashamed ….”
“It is not your fault, Bra Steve. Leticia is an adult who makes her own decisions and choices,” I interject.
He keeps his head down and I can’t help but feel sorry for him. I did see him earlier when I arrived and noticed that he intentionally changed course when he saw me. He is the old school proud and all about good behaviour and manners kind of a father. The guys told me that Leticia no longer has any regard for him and that she has even moved out of her home and now staying in one of George’s apartments.
“You are like a father to me, one I will always be grateful to having met. I hope you will stop avoiding me because I still need your counsel on a lot of matters.”
I mean every word of it. This man might be old school but his calm and level headed attitude is an incredible asset I would like to acquire.
He is the one who hugs me this time.
“I have to go, but please answer my calls.”
“Definitely, Son,” he beams.
- Writer
