Here is a new story. I don't when I update this one but I hope you enjoy this one.
Chapter 1: Bar, Case And Bartender
Kai arranged files on his desk computer. He was working as a policeman along with his closest friend Tyson Granger. He was also Kai's partner.
While Tyson was goofing around, Kai did the report and did other paper works.
'Typical,' Kai thought. Just as he finished his work Tyson came running.
'Hey Kai! Today is Friday. Let's go to the bar tonight,' Tyson suggested, 'I know you don't have anything else to do. Besides there is this new bar. Let's go visit it,' Tyson added before Kai could protest.
'You won't stop until I agree, will you?' Kai sighed. Tyson nodded smiling.
'*Sigh* Fine,' Kai turned his gaze away and back to his computer.
'Awesome! Bar is at Gloria's square. That must be the reason bar is called Gloria. Tonight at 8pm,' Tyson waved before leaving. Kai checked the time and it was almost 6pm already. He shut his computer and headed towards his locker.
After walking through the halls Kai arrived at lockers where everyone kept their clothes and other stuff. Kai didn't like to wear his police uniform but luckily it wasn't demanded to wear either. Lockers opened with a keycard. It didn't take long for Kai to take his keys, wallet and phone. He had two phones, one for work and second for other things.
'What plans do you have for tonight?' voice asked behind him. Kai turned and saw Michael smirking.
'Not really. Tyson literally dragged me to go with him to a new bar,' Kai closed his locker and went to the exit.
'Well have with that annoying brat,' Michael laughed. It was rude, but he was right too. Kai agreed with Tyson being a brat and annoying one, but Michael was far more annoying.
Kai watched Michael to leave with Steve and Eddy. Including Emily, they were a group who spent time together for every minute they could.
Kai left and went home to relax and eat before meeting with Tyson.
-Five Minutes Before 8pm-
Like usually Kai had arrived at the Gloria before Tyson had. Now, he was sitting on the bench while typing on his smartphone. It was ten minutes over eight when Kai saw Tyson running towards him.
'You're the one who wanted to meet here and yet you're late,' Kai mumbled.
'I'm sorry about that. I had to help an old lady,' Tyson rubbed his neck.
'You are a terrible liar,' Kai shook his head, stood up and walked to Gloria bar.
'What do you mean by that?' Tyson ran behind him. Kai didn't answer and opened the door.
'I heard that here is dark, but I didn't think it would be this dark,' Tyson stated.
'Tyson is right about that. Why is it so dark in here?' Kai thought. They sat at the table near the bar where a bartender was pouring drinks.
'Is there something you want to drink?' Tyson asked. Kai narrowed his eyes. Tyson knew that look.
'I'm serious Kai. I was the one who invited you… and I was late. I'm paying,' Tyson took his wallet out.
'It's fine. You don't need to buy me anything. I will do it myself,' Kai declined to Tyson's offer.
'I'm not complaining. I will get a drink now and go play billiards,' Tyson took some money, bought a drink and left towards the pool table where were other people playing. Kai observed Tyson's playing. He ridiculously foolishly failed to hit the white ball.
'Why did I come here?' Kai thought before standing up and sitting on the bar chair.
'What would you like?' Black-haired man bartender asked.
'Beer,' Kai said. Bartender nodded smiling slightly. Kai couldn't help but watch the bartender as he worked on drinks.
'There you go,' he put drink in front of Kai and took the money Kai had placed down. He kept glancing at the bartender when he went to get another order. Kai started to drink the beer as Tyson came back with disappointed look on his face.
'Apparently you lost,' Kai said.
'Stop that okay,' Tyson laid his head on the bar in front of them. Kai took another sip of the beer.
'But you are right. I lost every game. Oh man,' Tyson complained.
'It looks like you need to practice,' bartender said. Both Kai and Tyson moved their eyes on bartender who kept a calm looking smile on his face.
'Right… What can we call you by the way?' Tyson asked.
'My name is Ray. How about you too?' bartender said.
'I'm Tyson and this sourpuss is Kai,' Tyson pointed Kai next to him. He got a death-glare from Kai.
'You two look like you are close. Nice to meet you,' Ray said while cleaning glasses.
'Well, we have been friends for a long time. We are even partners,' Tyson spoke.
'Partners?' Ray questioned. Tyson blushed when he realized what Ray asked.
'Not like that! We work together,' Tyson's hands were sweeping in front of him.
'Of course,' Ray nodded and left to meet a new customer. It was man who was drunk.
'Haven't you have enough of alcohol already?' Ray asked.
'Nonsense. Give me another one,' man protested. Ray poured a beer as man paid.
As Tyson was talking about every single thing about his life to Kai man was on his fifth drink already. Man had a hiccup. Suddenly a stranger appeared next to him. Kai watched them leave after a few minutes.
'Hey! Are you listening?' Tyson snapped his fingers in front of Kai's face.
'Not really, but let's go,' Kai stood up.
'Why? It's not even a midnight yet,' Tyson asked.
'You can stay if you want but I don't need another drink,' Kai said as he walked to the door.
'Okay, okay. I'm coming,' Tyson waved at Ray before leaving.
-In The Morning-
Time was 8am as Kai's phone started to ring. Waking up Kai stood up and went to his desk. Rubbing his eyes, he checked the caller. It was Michael.
'Why is he calling?' Kai thought as he pressed answer button.
'Hello. What is it?' Kai asked.
'Good morning to you too,' Michael snorted, 'Anyway, there has been a murder. There is a body in the alley near Gloria's square. Come here. I already called Tyson,' he continued.
'Gloria's square?' Kai thought, 'Alright.' Kai shut the phone, changed clothes and left his apartment.
Kai drove to the scene and Tyson was greeting him.
'Morning Kai,' Tyson yawned.
'Don't tell me… you went to sleep too late,' Kai sighed.
'Come on Kai. It was Friday and I played games all night,' Tyson stretched yawning.
'You're so stupid,' Kai shook his head and walked past him.
'What was that?' Tyson shouted. Kai ignored Tyson, showed his metal police badge to a policeman who kept no-police people getting too near the scene and Kai was let past the yellow police tape.
'Wait up Kai!' Tyson did the same thing and followed Kai. They arrived at the alley where police paramedics were examining everything.
'Hey Max,' Tyson greeted yellow-haired man kneeling next to a body. Tyson liked him a lot but to Kai, Max Tate who had too much energy.
'How are you?' Tyson asked but Kai hit him behind the head.
'Get back to business. We have work to do,' Kai reminded.
'Okay, okay. What do we have here?' Tyson asked.
'Matt Preston. He's 37-years-old shopkeeper,' Michael read his notes, 'And now Max, speak to us.'
'Right. I'm not sure yet but what can I can tell that he died… around midnight but I can tell more later,' Max stood up.
'Alright. Keep us updated,' Michael said and went to talk to the witness who found the body. Kai kneeled down and checked man's face.
'Tyson.'
'Yeah?' Tyson turned to Kai.
'I recognize him,' Kai pointed out.
'From where?'
Kai rubbed his hair before standing up, 'I saw him yesterday at the bar. It's not surprise you didn't see him,' Kai replied.
'Stop being so rude. But it looks like where we are going to go firsts,' Tyson calculated.
'Yeah but not both of us. I'm going there while you can check with victim's family,' Kai said. Most of the time Kai made decisions and Tyson followed them.
'It's your call. I will go ask them some questions,' Tyson moved away and left smiling.
'Tyson needs to get more serious,' Kai wondered as he walked towards Gloria-bar on the other side of the road. Bar was closed but Kai decided to knock on the door. Security guard opened the door.
'Who is it?' man asked. Kai took his police badge out.
'Kai Hiwatari. I'm investigating a murder that happened in the nearby alley. I was hoping that I would be able to talk with the bartender who works here,' Kai explained.
'You mean Ray, don't you? He must be at home,' man answered.
'Do you know his address?' Kai asked.
'No but I can go check it. One moment,' man didn't close the door but disappeared to the office. In next minute he came back with Ray's home address and gave it to Kai.
'Thanks for your help,' Kai said before taking his phone out and opened the map. Apparently, Ray lived in the edge of the town. Kai jumped inside his car and drove towards Ray's home. His phone started to ring. Kai answered the call and put it on speaker.
'Who is it?
'It's Tyson. I called victim's wife. She was sad and didn't know where her husband was last night. She did tell me that they got weird messages and even threats. I'm going to check them. How about you?'
'I'm driving to the bartender's house. I need to ask him questions,' Kai said and turned the wheel to the right.
'Okay. I will go report to the chief too but come back to the station after you have talked to him,' Tyson said before hanging up.
Kai arrived at the apartment house and parked his house. After stepping inside and taking an elevator to the fifth floor Kai rang the doorbell. On the door read Ray Kon. Kai heard someone walking to the door and open it. Kai's eyes widened a bit when he saw Ray with only towel around his waist.
'Well hello there. How can I help you?' Ray smiled.
'I know we met yesterday but today I'm here because of my work,' Kai said and showed his badge.
'So, you are a policeman. That's interesting. Do come in,' Ray stepped aside and let Kai in. After he closed the door Ray went to the kitchen.
'So, how can I help?' Ray took a beer can out.
'Man was murdered near the place where you work. I saw the victim at the bar yesterday and I wanted to ask you few questions,' Kai said. Ray only nodded.
'Is he a regular in Gloria?' Kai had taken his phone out and showed a picture of Matt Preston.
'He came couple of times. Yesterday was one of them,' Ray sat down on the couch. Kai kept his eyes on Ray's face. His black hair was open and it reached under his knees.
'Did you know him?'
'Not personally.'
'Last question for now, did you see him act weird or do anything what would help us?'
Ray was quiet for a while before speaking, 'I think you saw it too. That man who walked up to him last night. I never seen him meet with anyone before. Of course, that's not the strange thing but this Matt looked stressed and… scared. I don't know who the other guy is but you can check the video tapes from bar. You do need owner's permission though,' Ray spoke.
'Thank you for the help,' Kai said before turning to the door.
'Are you doing something tonight?' Ray asked suddenly.
'No… Why?' Kai asked.
'I was thinking that since I have free day today… Would you like to come with coffee with me?' Ray asked. Kai stared at Ray for a while and didn't know what to answer. Normally, he would say no but something in Ray caught his interest.
'Well… alright,' Kai agreed. Ray stood up and took his wallet.
'Here is my number. Call me when we can meet,' Ray winked and went to his bedroom. Kai left too but checked the number again. He put it inside his pocket before returning to his car.
-At The Station-
Kai saw Tyson on computer when he arrived.
'Do you have something?' Kai stopped next to him.
'Not yet. We are waiting Max's results. Other evidences are being checked. How about you?' Tyson asked.
'I was thinking calling Gloria's owner. We need to check the cameras. Ray Kon told me about the strange guy victim met there,' Kai walked to his own desk and opened the internet.
'It looks like we have a start but we are still stuck. Those "threat" letters didn't show anything who killed him,' Tyson stretched.
'What did they say?'
'Mostly that be friendlier or you will regret it.'
'It looks like he wasn't too nice to other people,' Kai pointed out, 'Check his Facebook and other social media and talk to his friends. You can ask for Michael's help if it's too much work for you,' Kai stood up after writing down Gloria's owner's number down.
'What are you going to do? It looks like you give me all the work,' Tyson complained.
'I'm going to call the owner, check the camera's and find this mystery person. Besides I have a car. We can trade the jobs if you want,' Kai smirked. Tyson shook his head.
'No thanks. I'm going to check Facebook first,' Tyson went to his computer.
'I thought you would say that,' Kai nodded before leaving the office again.
-At The Gloria-
'There has been a murder. We need to check the cameras,' Kai spoke to the phone while driving to the Gloria again.
'Alright. I'll call the security guard to let you in,' owner said.
Kai shut the car on the square and stepped out. He waited ten minutes when guard opened the door and showed the way to the computers.
'Here it is. Take your time,' guard said before leaving. Without any second thoughts Kai opened the different files and found last night's recording. He saw Tyson, Ray, himself and the victim on the screen after forwarding. After half an hour watching Kai saw the stranger Ray mentioned and he saw yesterday. Kai took a memory stick and copied the file. Kai closed the computer and thanked the guard before returning to his car. Inside Kai took his laptop out, opened it and put memory stick in. Stopping the recording, slowing it down Kai tried to see stranger's face. After face was showing to the camera Kai stopped the frame and zoomed in. After clearing the frame Kai did facial recognition.
Kai sighed in disappointment when "No match" yelled in the screen. Kai closed the laptop and closed his eyes for a while. What was the next step? There had to be another way to find out who this guy was but nothing came to Kai's mind.
'I need a break,' Kai decided and started the car. He was about to press gas when he recalled Ray's number.
'He did ask me for a coffee,' Kai dialed Ray's number and listened it to beep until Ray answered.
'This is Ray,' voice said.
'It's Kai,' Kai watched out of the window.
'That was quick,' Ray chuckled.
'I was going to take a break and get coffee. How about you?' Kai said.
'I will come. It might take about fifteen minutes to me come there but there is a nice coffee near the park,' Ray suggested. Kai agreed. They cut the call and Kai headed towards the park.
-After Fifteen Minutes-
Kai was leaning against the tree. He had his work phone with him just in case Tyson would call about Max's results or something.
'Thanks for waiting Kai. Coffee shop is right over there,' Ray appeared and walked closer.
'I am expecting a call from work. I might be here for a long time,' Kai said before walking towards the coffee shop.
'It's fine,' Ray smiled. Inside the shop they ordered coffee black and went to sit down near the window.
'You look stressed,' Ray said suddenly.
'And for a reason. We have no leads but I'm not allowed to say anything else,' Kai took a sip
'I guess that. I'm sure you get your breakthrough,' Ray encouraged.
'I wish,' Kai stated. They didn't speak anything when Kai's phone rang.
'Sorry,' Kai said before answering, 'Hello… Results came… Okay, I will go check them. Continue with the social media.'
'Good luck,' Ray said as Kai stood up.
'Thanks… I guess,' Kai went to his car, who knows how many times, and drove off. He didn't see Ray standing outside of the coffee shop with a smirk on his face.
Here you go. I will update when I can. That's a promise. DO review and tell me what you think.