Priscilla Murphy

'Do you see her?' Deputy James asked Inspector Charles.

The inspector did not respond. Finally, he handed James the binoculars. He leaned back in the passenger seat and let his deputy have his turn. The deputy took a long, good look. After about two minutes, he placed the binoculars on top of the dashboard just above the steering wheel. He also leaned back in his seat.

'You think Plan B may have fed us false information?' James asked the inspector.

'After the consequences we promised her if she didn't cooperate? I don't think so, James. I don't think so at all.'

'And what about the evidence, sir? Didn't your source promise to leave the evidence at your doorstep this morning?'

'There was nothing. I'm starting to think whoever sent those letters was just trying to divert our attention.'

'But, sir…'

The inspector silenced him with a raised finger. He was looking outside the window into the park again. 'Hand me the binoculars.' He took them from James' hand without even looking aside.

James saw a smile quickly spread on his superior's face. 'What is it, sir?' he asked him curiously.

The inspector handed him the binoculars from over his shoulder. He was grinning. 'We got her, James. We got her.'

James kept on looking. About two hundred metres inside the park, standing a few feet in front of a vacant bench was Priscilla Murphy with her hands inside the pockets of a black bomber jacket. She was wearing a black flat cap, black denims and white sneakers. She was nervously looking left and right. The distinct sound of thunder could be heard within the thick, black clouds above. It was going to rain. It was definitely going to rain.

James gave the binoculars back to the inspector who threw them into the glove compartment.

The inspector took one look at his deputy. 'You're ready?'

'Ready, sir.'

The two stepped out of the car and began to walk into the park.

The two police officers approached her from behind. Inspector Charles' hands were trembling excitedly just above the handcuffs strapped to the right side of his waist. He licked his lips when they reached within ten metres. He looked at James and nodded.

James nodded back.

Priscilla did not seem to be aware of what was going on. She continued to look sideways, cautiously.

Inspector Charles and Deputy James moved in for the kill.

Charles grabbed her left arm and James grabbed her right.

'Priscilla Murphy; you're coming with us,' the inspector told her.

She turned around. 'Excuse me?'

The inspector immediately released his hold. 'Sineas?!'

'Sineas, sir?' James asked looking greatly confused. He looked into Priscilla's face. It was Sineas!

'What are you doing here, boy?!' the inspector growled at him.

Sineas looked around. 'In the park? I don't remember there being a law against a teenager being in the park, Charles. Unless maybe against black teenagers?'

The inspector grabbed him roughly by the collar of his jacket and pulled him off the ground. 'Don't you even dare try to use the racism trick on me, boy or I'll..!'

'Sir…' James said.

Charles looked at him.

James tilted his head towards the unwelcome eyes the inspector's actions were beginning to attract.

Charles brought Sineas back to earth. 'Nothing to see here, folks, nothing at all. Just having some fun with my pal.' He grinned nervously, dusting Sineas' shoulders.

The unwelcome eyes began to return to their business.

The inspector fixed his face into a threatening frown. 'Where's your mother, Sineas?' he asked him.

'I already told you, Charles. I don't know.'

'I swear, boy, if you don't tell me where your mother is right now, I'll whoop you so bad you'll think I'm your daddy come back to life!'

Sineas stared curiously at the inspector, his eyes buried deep by the cap. He said, 'Beat me, Charles? But…that sounds an awful lot like police brutality, doesn't it?'

The inspector tried to reach for his collar again but decided to restrain himself. A few eyes were still lingering in their direction. 'You think you're smarter than us, Murphy? Do you think we're here to play?'

Sineas shook his head. 'Of course not, officers. You already told me that you're looking for my mother.'

The inspector grinned. It wasn't a pleasant grin. In fact, it was very far from it.

Sineas knew that if there were no or at least a few people in the park, he would probably be on his way to the hospital by now.

'Sineas, just tell us where she is,' James spoke this time.

Despite his permanent glower, Sineas actually thought James sounded sincere. He sighed. 'I'm sorry but I've already told you that I don't know where she is.'

'Then what the hell are you doing here at nine o'clock in the morning on a school day, boy!' the inspector half yelled into his face. 'Aren't you supposed to be in school?! Do you expect us to fall for your premature bull?!'

'I'm here to enjoy the scenery, Charles…and the serenity. This happens to be my favourite place in Malrich.'

James said, 'Then I wonder what your principal would say if he found out that you intentionally skipped school so you could enjoy the "serenity" here.' He concluded his statement by looking far ahead towards the end of the park like he had spoken a deep proverb.

Sineas knew what he was trying to do. He replied, 'I also wonder what he would say, deputy. But…I also wonder what he would say if he found out that two of Malrich's police officers harassed a black teenager in broad daylight In the presence of fifty witnesses.'

Both James and the inspector looked up. The inquisitive eyes had wandered back to the three of them. Inspector Charles' hand had unconsciously moved to the edge of Sineas' collar again. He immediately let go.

The inspector moved his lips towards Sineas' ear. 'We're not done yet, boy,' he said. He beckoned at James and the two began to return in the direction they had come from.

'Just out of curiosity, Charles!' Sineas called out to him.

The two policemen stopped in their tracks. Only James turned around.

'Who told you that my mother was going to be here?' he asked them.

They paused for a moment. They resumed their departure. 'Go to school, Sineas,' the inspector said.