Chapter 14

  "You don't want to blame that fellow over there. He used to be a sane cop."

     The officer started after offering both cups of coffee. 

     Eric was wondering if police stations really did give stuffs like that to those who were invited over. But he was damn sure that criminals would have no right whatsoever to such professed benefits. 

     "He shouldn't be here then if he is no longer sane. Too dangerous for people who come here, else he would smear the reputation of the entire cops."

    Ishbelle flared up. The officer looked at her and smiled, the gap popped up again. 

     "You have a point."

     He said. Eric had a contention that he wouldn't hide, even before having to talk about the call,

     "What happened to him. Why had he gone nuts?"

    The officer folded his arms over his chest and said,

     "That's a good question to ask."

     "Like mine wasn't."

    Ishbelle hopped on it. The officer wanted to smile again, but he wasn't sure if he was ready for the risk. 

     He pushed his cheeks up instead and did what was close to the no-teeth-must-show kinda smile. 

     "Twas. But... hmm hmm. No buts, just fine."

    She didn't say anything. He continued,

      "His wife ended him up that way. The trauma of marriage and all. Makes me wonder if marriage is a thing everyone should esteem, you know."

       Eric couldn't wait for him to continue,

     "Marriage is a good thing, why would you say that? Beliefs shouldn't be forced on anyone."

    The officer tilted his face sideways and shared his gaze between the lady and Eric as he talked,

    "I didn't remember when I saddled my belief on anyone. Never would I do that. Only saying, regarding stuffs like that that happened to Steve up there."

    "What a nice name for a dickhead."

    Ishbelle said. The officer ignored but before he could continue, Eric was on,

     "Sorry I cut you short on that. Proceed."

    He hadn't forgotten what he was there for. He was hoping that twould be worth it, but he had been dragged into that tale too. He should be the judge, whether Steve's reaction to the odds was hyped or not enough. 

     The officer had a swig from the cup of coffee and continued,

     "He got married to this lady he had loved for long and gave so much into before she accepted."

    At that, Eric automatically looked at Ishbelle. Ishbelle noticed, but before she could look at him, his face was off. 

     He had no idea why he had done that. He only felt like the fellow had talked about him in the first few words in the light of Steve. 

     A feeling told him that the officer was going to talk about him in some way or was already talking about him. 

    He ignored that feeling. He was always like. He only would feel jumpy at every fooking thing. That was just one of those things, he would get over it like he always did. 

   He put his heart to the tale as the officer hopped on the horse again, 

     "They got married, but boom the lady was no where to be found. She actually firstly broke up with him and asked for a divorce after he had willed all his properties to her name outta love, you know."

      Ishbelle was irritated,

      "That's way stupid."

      "You can say that again"

     The officer said and continued,

     "The only thing he didn't sign in her names was his house from where he did come to work. He used to be a real estate manager before he became a cop to become her hero. She wanted him to."

     Ishbelle again had something to say,

     "That's no man. He's a douchebag. Com'on, who does such? Super duper dumb."

      The officer was getting real serious and continued,

     "Why didn't he Sue her?"

    Eric said. He didn't even know if that was the right thing to say. 

   Ishbelle was going to say something before the officer hijacked the pitch,

     "He was going to. Then a news got to them that she died. There was no one he could hold responsible since she had willed those stuffs to another person he hadn't even heard of in his life."

  "Holy shit. That's some tough dough. Damn."

     The officer tried to remember who said that but at the same time was trying to keep track of the tale he was going to finalize. 

    He dumped the thought of who and continued to bloom,

     "Court gave him lists of options and conditions and files and expectations and stuffs till he got fed up of all. You know how it is with the court. Only the person with proofs is  truthful. He then decided to let it all go and take the cop-thing seriously. The last thing he had."

    The officer looked very sober and gave a last touch after sipping to wet the throbbing throat,

    "He hated all ladies since then. Hence why he acted that way towards to you. Apologies for any hurt his words caused emotionally or any wise. But we manage him here, to keep him safe. He could just end up in an asylum. And how does it speak well of us, cop to lunatic?"

     Eric leaned into the chair and tossed his thought,

    "Ain't nothing the cops can do about it?"

     "It's more than what it is."

   The officer said and turned the file before him open,

    "Sorry for taking your time with that tale. That was quite unprofessional."

     "No it's fine. I asked for it. I should say the sorry and thanks."

    Eric said. Ishbelle had been mute. That was some magic to be looked up at. 

    "Back to what you were called for. Twas some Asian glitch. It had been fixed over there, we got a call from their SWAT immediately after the call. The brother is not sure of what to do with the guy. Don't bother though. Sorry about the inconvenience."

   Ishbelle wanted to be mad, but remembered few moments ago. She cooled the raging nerve. 

    The officer added, while Eric just looked,

    "Who's the Chung guy, again?"

    "A client. Just a client."

    "What's your profession?"

     "A cyber guru. Encoding of company data and lots more of graphic designing."

       "Oh! Maybe we could hire you sometimes later."

      "Y'all use this shi...tt too."

    He lagged on the word, 'shit', as he looked at Ishbelle who grimaced. He almost laughed. 

     "You too are cute together. By the way, we use some of the shit."

     "Thank you officer and bye."

    She said and was on her feet. 

     Eric stood up and shook hands with the officer,

     "Sorry about everything."

     "It's fine. Just be sure sometimes before putting a call through."

     Eric said and they both walked outta the office. 

      Eric looked towards the office of Steve, he was looking towards them too. He was saying somethings he couldn't hear properly. 

   He ignored and hurried to catch up with Ishbelle.