Nick sat at his desk. He planned to sit there all day and do jack shit. He sipped his coffee and filed paperwork from previous days that he had procrastinated, and looked around, feeling ridiculously tempted to spin around on his office chair.
Just eight more hours.
He yawned and leaned back in his chair. Here was to another day of doing-
His mobile rang. He frowned and answered it, but before he could get a word in-
"Nick, we need you downtown now."
"Fuck!" he exhaled loudly, irritated. "What for?"
"You're gonna wanna see this."
Nick sighed. "Give me ten. Send me the address on the way."
"Can do. See you soon."
He hung up and looked around the plain office.
What could have happened now? What could be so important that he actually had to do work?
He got up and walked down to the car. He didn't bother with the sirens, he just drove to the address now lit up on his phone screen.
When he was half way there, his phone rang again. He answered it. "What?"
"The press are here filming and asking questions and shit."
"Fuck, I will be there in a minute." He hung up and turned the sirens on. This was gonna be fucking inconvenient. He hated reporters nosing around crime scenes, asking questions that they didn't need to know the answers to, and the fact that they had lost good pieces of evidence because the camera man had slipped or some ridiculous shit.
He parked outside the crime scene, pulling gloves on and following a fellow cop down past the tape. He could see a few reporters hanging round with camera crews, vans and a few random passers-by.
"Officer!" one of the reporters stopped him. "What can you tell us about what happened this morning?"
He looked at the lady, then back at the other cop. "I want all press out of the area. Now."
"Yes Sir."
Nick continued to walk down to Louis, his work partner. "Whats going on here? Why are there so many fucking reporters?" he hissed.
"Don't know."
"Then why didn't you tell them to fuck off? I hate reporters at my crime scenes."
"I didn't think-"
"I don't want this to turn into some sort of circus. God damn…"
"Nick, man, I'm sorry."
"Just let me know what the fuck is going on."
"Yes. Over here we have a well-executed murder. This man here, you recognize him?"
"Nope. Can't see under all the blood and swelling. Looks like he had the shit beat out of him." He looked around and saw reporters still there. "Is it too much to ask?" he groaned.
"They think they have a right to be here."
"Well, in my opinion, they don't."
"Which is always right, yeah Nick?"
"Exactly. Now, who is this?"
"It's Henry."
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, awesome. The fuck is Henry."
"He is from a motorcycle gang."
"Well, good riddance, right?"
"We still need to find out who did it. Murder is said to have happened between six and eight this morning."
Nick sighed. "Well, let's start this. He is either a bikie or ex-bikie. So it's either someone from his gang, or a rival gang." He groaned and picked up his ringing phone. "If I get one more call… hello it's Nick-"
"We have a suspect."
"Already?" he frowned. "Kinda not buying that."
"Can you come back to-"
"On my way." He put his phone in his pocket. "Fuck" he sighed. "You got this Louis?"
"Yeah, you should head back."
"Okay. See you later." Nick walked back to the car. He was so sick of his job. Hated it. He drove back and parked his car.
"Nick!"
"Phil."
"Can you come with me?"
"Course." He followed Phil down to the holding cells. "How do you know-?"
"We have had trouble with this person before. His name is Francis. Part of the Hells Legion gang."
Nick nodded and opened the door to the holding cell. "Francis."
"Nick."
"Didn't know I'd find you in here."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Asshole."
"I'm not the one who is-"
"Save it."
Nick sat down across from him. "So, what trouble have you been getting into?"
"None. I haven't done shit. Hey, can you let me out now?"
"Can't, sorry. I didn't put you in here."
"The fuck?"
"Sorry man. You're in here for questioning. Do you have any information, some good evidence suggesting you weren't there? I don't know whether it is you or someone else. Do you know who did it?"
"No, I didn't know Henry was still alive. I was told he was dead years ago." He shrugged. "You think it was me, Suit?"
Nick shrugged. "You damn bikies always seem to be killing each other. Sick of this shit. Making me have to do work" he grumbled.
Francis shrugged.
"Well, I am gonna question you. Where were you between six and eight this morning?"
"Home, then the garage."
"What garage?"
"Mechanics. The one about five, hell, maybe eight blocks from here."
"Don't know it."
Francis shrugged.
Of course he wouldn't be that helpful. Even if they did go back, Nick was still a cop.
Nick leaned back in his chair. "Well, now I gotta go see the on duty mechanic. Who was there this morning?"
"Don't know his name. It's run by a group of friends from down South. They are a good bunch. Don't ask too many questions. Also the young looking one that was there today things I'm cool looking" he chuckled.
"Bet he does. Probably a closet case."
"Fuck you Nick. You're just jealous cause no one thinks you're cool."
Nick was sure that no one thought he was cool, and was already at peace with that. He sighed. "Whatever. Well, let's hope the hick will tell me you were there."
"See ya Suit" Francis smirk, flipping the bird.
Nick rolled his eyes. "Real mature fuckwit."
"Blow me."
"I'll be right." Nick got up and walked out.
Phil raised a brow. "You know him?"
"We go back."
"So you think he is innocent?"
"I know he is innocent."
Phil shook his head. "I think you are wrong."
"Whatever. I am ducking out." Nick walked past him, bumping his shoulder against his.
Nick didn't like Phil. In Nick's opinion, Phil was just a pompous asshole. Phil wanted this 'promotion' that was apparently up for grabs, so he had actually started doing work and acting like the boss. Even though Nick was higher up than him, Nick just no longer gave a shit.
He drove back to the crime scene, located Louis and walked over. "Spoke to Francis-"
"Who?"
"The guy Phil thinks is the murderer. He is the only suspect at the present time."
Louis raised a brow. "You don't think this Francis guy is-"
"No."
"Okay. What is your proof?"
"I am about to go and get it."
"Okay, you want me to come?"
"Sure. You're probably the only person who would listen to Southern accents anyway."
Louis raised a brow. "Are we going to the South?"
"No. Apparently some hicks have set up shop up here. Francis was at their garage this morning."
"Let's go. Bradley, keep an eye on this shit. Nick and I are going."
"Look, Louis, just one question" Nick said quietly, getting in the car. "Can you not consider Phil for this so called promotion?"
"Phil? Never was considering him. Anyway, Blum is the man you have to speak to for that one."
"Thank god. Blum won't promote him."
Louis laughed. "I can't believe-"
"No, I didn't want to believe. He was there this morning bossing me about."
"He is just sad" sighed Louis.
Nick chuckled. "Can we stop for coffee?"
"Yes. Absolutely."