CHAPTER 2
I walked and walked. Strolled and strolled. Window shopping. Observed other people. I found a Muslim store an hour ago and ask if I can borrow a place for prayer. Bless those nice people. I checked the time in I phone. 3.47pm. No messages. Mother and Father must be busy. Nah… I don't have friends now except for the people in the restaurant. I do have friends from childhood but I don't have their contact numbers. I shook my box of breath mints in rhythm with my steps.
I saw a massage parlor and tempted to have a relaxing time and maybe a quick shut-eye. I tsked and reminded myself of my financial situation. I should have taken the money from the duo this morning. I wonder what their relationship is. The man – Alfred – did call the boy 'Master B'. A valet and his master, maybe. Alfred is quite handsome despite his age and he looks fit, like he can fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee. Maybe he is also a bodyguard.
And then, something caught my eyes. It was a bizarre scene for me. A man was holding an adorable baby pig in his arms. Going for a walk too, I guess. He was wearing a dark green fedora and glasses. It is quite difficult for me to see his face with this distance. He crossed the road to this side. I follow him with my eyes. I don't always get to see people strolled with pet pigs. I was curious and decided to follow the Pig Whisperer a bit. I could hear cute oinks from the baby pig. About 5 foot away, I almost tripped. Freaking shoelaces! I went to the side behind a shrubs and ducking down to tie my sneakers.
Then, I heard a thud and a gasp. I looked over to the sound. An old man was looking at the Pig Whisperer in fear. I stood up slowly. Is he okay? The scared man spun around and walked away from the Pig Whisperer. Suddenly a muscular man appeared before him and used a taser on him. I gasped and hide. He just used a taser on the old man! "Do you hear that?" someone said, maybe the Pig Whisperer. I tightly closed my lips to avoid any noise from coming out, though I was breathing heavily due to my fear. After a few seconds, with caution, I peered at them again. The muscular man carried him to a van and the Pig Whisperer went into van as well. They are in it together! What do I do? I looked around. There were a few people from afar and they didn't realize that someone was abducted. I stood up again. Police. Yes, I should go to the police. I tried to run to find a police station, but I tripped and hit my head on the wall. Well, I fainted.
Freaking shoelaces.
Ow. Moving my head is painful. I blinked my eyes open. The sky is still bright.
"You woke up," someone said. I spun towards the voice. It was the redhead girl from before. Was it Ivy? Ow. My head. I touched my forehead and felt gooey stuff on it. "Don't remove them. They can heal the cut a bit," Ivy noted.
"It s-smells weird," I grimaced when I sniffed the slime.
"Yeah. It has my spit with it."
Ew… I cannot even complain because the pain on my head. I hope not a concussion.
I checked my own pulse. Based on my headache and erratic heartbeat, I might be in a concussion. I took first aid class years ago. My memory is rusty but I still remember some information. I need to get checked up. I realized that I was still at the same place where I tied my shoelace. I checked my phone. 4.31pm. I have to go to the police station.
"Ivy. I need to go to the police station," I breathed.
"How the hell did you know my name?" she responded, raising one eyebrow slightly.
"Call a taxi, please," I requested, but she wasn't moving from her spot. She just sat there and stroked a plant.
"Ivy. P-please. I'll give you another 20 bucks," at that she looked at me.
She walked towards the road and stand in the middle of it. What the heck is she doing? I could hear a honk and screech. A taxi halted in front of her and the driver was screaming profanities at her. Suppressing the pain in my head, I get to my feet and walk to the taxi while taking 20 dollar bills from my wallet. I gave them to her and ruffled her hair. "Thanks, Ivy." Now I have 50 dollars left in my wallet. Hope the police station is not far from here.
I get inside the taxi and told the driver to go the nearest police station.
I have never been to police station before. Now I'm at the GCPD. Gotham City Police Department. I go to a first blue uniform officer I see and told him what I had witnessed. He brought me inside the building and asked me to wait. A detective named Jim Gordon will talk to me. I leaned my head on the wall behind me and closed my eyes. I heard a sound of something being dragged on the floor and the sound stopped near me. I ignored it. My head is still throbbing. I feel something or someone close to my face and… sniffing me? I opened my eyes and was greeted by a young man with glasses. His face was inches away from mine. I backed away immediately. My face felt hot because of the close contact.
"When is a doctor feels most annoyed?" the man smiles at you. He has nice set of teeth. He is lean and tall. Way tall. I will look like a hobbit beside him. He is wearing a green stripe suit. Neat. The suit looks good on him.
"Sorry?" I politely asked. Do people nowadays ask riddle on meeting the first time? I looked at him, warily.
"When is a doctor feels most annoyed?" he asked again, slowly and still chirpy. I winced again touching my forehead. "By the way, those slimy leaves on your head are not really helping ease the headache. It only can heal minor cuts."
"My head hurts," I leaned back again.
"Of course. Your hand please. I want to check your pulse." Is he a doctor? He sat beside me and I automatically make space between us. He held my hand for a while. His eyebrows furrowed in concentration. "Now, look at me." I looked at him and he has very beautiful eyes. Man. This headache is making me feeling things. My heart is beating faster. Thank God, he had finished checking my pulse. He switched on a small torch and lighted it over my eyes. "Yes, you have a mild concussion."
I groaned. "I have to make a testimony first. Thank you."
He grinned and walked away. Unique man. And charming. Hmm… what ticks a doctor? I am bad at riddles.
"Miss Sarah Abdul?" I focused at the new man. How is the people working in this precinct is good-looking? He had a small face for a man. A chiseled small face. Clean cut hair, smartly dressed and shiny shoes. He held out his hand for handshake and I took it. "I'm Detective Gordon. I heard you have something for me." And I told him everything.
"Does your head still hurt?" He asked and I nodded. "You think you can explain to our sketches artist how he looked like?"
"I-I can't really see his face. He was wearing a hat," I hesitated.
"We appreciate any leads. Wait here. I'll bring you a glass of water," he kindly said, flashing me a genuine smile, which I shyly returned.
"T-thank you, Detective."
I wasn't supposed to be listening but those detectives are unnecessarily loud. So the Pig Whisperer is using people's fear to murder them. What has the world become?
After I was done describing, the police sketch artist spent a few more minute to finish and pass the picture to Detective Gordon. Detective Gordon asked another officer to help him find the identity of the man. I wish I was more useful. I didn't even see the license plate of the van.
"Thank you for your help. I just need you to fill in this paper and then I will ask one of the officers to send you to a nearby hospital," he curtly said.
"Thank you."
With a dizzy head, I began to fill in the form. Just in case, I wrote down Aryan's phone number as well. Then I heard someone shouting. He had a southern drawl. Seriously, these detectives are rowdy. The noise added on to the pressure of my headache. They were talking about Pig Whisperer is taking another person hostage. They are trying to figure out where the Pig Whisperer will bring the hostage. And then they rushed out of the building. Do your best, detectives! I noticed a patrol officer was passing by me.
"Excuse me," I called to him. "Detective Gordon said t-that someone will be se…" I stopped my words because I was too shock. Oh God, forgive me! He was holding a bunch of arms in his arms! A stench smell reached my nose.
That's it. I fainted. Again.