That Hot Day
Its taken me a bitof time to do this second chapter, hope its ok as i've moved the most of the scenes to the main crime that will be about to happen in this chapter .
When Brian woke up early, that very morning in the hotel room it was a scorching hot Saturday, he went to the window to look at the sun beaming off the hotel pool it looked really sweltering outside . It was like holidaying in Miami rather then being in Barcelona. It felt strange waking up in a different bed, as he had struggled to sleep throughout the hot sticky night with the current heatwave in Spain about to go into its 14th day. Brian decided to just carry his creamy jacket around with him as he had a notepad inside it and his wallet with money in which was important to keep on him.
He took out a notepad writing a message on it to let Esther know that he was just meeting Gerry at the Cafe Salsa in the main city centre and wouldn't be long probably an hour at least. Lifting his glasses up to see that she was fast asleep looking very calm and peaceful. How did she ever manage to put up with him and the demands of his police work, he wouldn't end up knowing why, but in the end she understood that work was an important factor in Brian's career.
After finishing writing out the message he bent over and place the note on the table stand next to the bed. Adjusting his glasses as he then left the room, closing the door then walking down the long corridor past the young spanish room attendants, "Hola" briefly acknowledging a greeting from one of them. As he reached the front entrance of the hotel, noticing the queue of taxis parked along next to the hot pathway.
Putting his hand out for one as a small black licensed taxi stopped and he climbed in.
"Hola ¿podría llevarme al estadio Camp Nou.... blimey me spanish has proved already" suddenly realising as he hadn't bought his spanish dictionary with him. As he'd been bored during the flight to Barcelona he was glued to reading every word in the spanish dictionary.
The weather was glorious in Barcelona most of the tourists were cooling down under the water fountain in the city centre, as Brian had noticed when the taxi drove past about to reach its destination to the Nou Camp. All of a sudden the taxi came to a sudden stop by a young Spanish man in his mid twenties wearing a red baraclava, a vest and blue denim jeans, he was branding a knife pointing it at the taxi driver screaming , Brian attempted to intervene but then panicked for his life as the young man swore back at him in spanish. Then dragging the terrified driver across the busy road and placing him into the boot of a getaway car.
Brian looked up from the back of the taxi, looking extremely frightened as it had been a scary experience. In the corner of his eye he noted the number plate of the car as it drove away down the public street . Quickly writing it down on his hand, he then climbed out of the car taking his creamy jacket from the car seat.
He walked to the nearest payphone box and dialled a number, Gerry answered.
"Gerry its Brian can i ask you for a favour.. could you meet by the Scorcio park instead of the football stadium"
An hour later Esther was resting on one of the sun loungers by the hotel pool as it shone out brightly, the sun bounced off her dark shaded sunglasses , she sighed wishing that Brian hadn't gone to meet Gerry, she was desperate to spend as much as possible with her husband for these two weeks in Barcelona.
"Them two will probably be talking about how much they miss Jack and Sandra back in London" she reckoned as she sat up to drink a large glass of orange juice on the table.
"No No i'm not getting myself involved here" Gerry protested as his friend filled him on what happened an hour ago in the taxi.
"But Gerry i witnessed what happened i had a bloody knife put to me throat i was being swore at in Spanish"
"Yes but you're the only who witnessed it though.... they might not... believe you mate.. sorry " pointing out with a soft sigh as he rested his hand on the wooden arm of the park bench.
" Ok I'll have to prove it to them that i'm telling the truth... come on we're off to the police station then"
"Oh Great Emily won't be happy when she finds out i've been at the police station with yer all afternoon" following Brian as they walked past the beach scenery which looked stunning. Gerry continued moaning with a frown on his face as usual as they were about to reach the car park of the Policia and Guardia Civil. Walking to the entrance they then walked in Gerry noticing that it looked more like the police station from Life on Mars, a programme he always watches on tv, inside of the station had more of a 1970's feel to it.
Brian went to ask at the front reception desk.
"Hola Miss Erm... Can i speak to...Inspector de policia"
She let them know that there would be a detective along in a moment as the two friends then sat down at the waiting area. Gerry folded his arms while waiting, as he watched the young police officers moving from room to room with file documents. It reminded him of the good old days when he started off with the London Met as a young nervous 20 year old , young man as he had made a few errors on the first couple days in the 1970's which resulted in angering a few older detectives.
"Blimey how much longer do we have to wait.. i'm starving here hungry... for something to eat?" looking at his watch.
A spanish female detective greeted them as she came over to the waiting area.
"My name.. Police Detective Monica Sanchez can i ask you what is the crime you want to report here?"
Brian spoke out finally after having being perfectly still and quiet for 30 minutes as they'd been waiting.
"My name is Brian Lane , this is Gerry Standing we work for the Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad back in the UK and I wanted to report an assualt on a taxi driver that happened about an hour and a half ago.. because i was sitting in the back of the taxi on my way to visit the Nou Camp and some person stopped the car.. he looked about 25 years old, had pulled on both of us and dragged the drive out of the seat throwing him into the back of another car"
"Is there any other witnesses that seen this happen" she asked looking half interested as she'd noticed Gerry staring smiling towards her from the other side of the table.
"Nope afraid not"
"I'm sorry Mr Lane but i can't investigate this any further"
Just then Monica's colleague came over to the seating area and told her that someone else had seen what happened in the taxi that Brian had been in. They argued as they spoke in Spanish her colleague left her looking frustrated. Gerry began to notice that she reminded him of a Spanish version of Sandra, but with dark black hair and the same fiesty, determination attitude that she showed which was very similar to Pullman.
"My colleague here tells me that someone else has come forward about this assault"
'Oh great.. is it ok if i help in maybe solving this case"
"Brian we have to leave..... Esther will be wondering where you are and she won't be happy"
"I think you should listen to your friend but am i given permission for just one day that you can come back tomorrow and check up the attacker's name and provide details of the number plate if that's ok"
Brian smiled "See Gerry people can see that i have a good eye for anything"
They left a while later walking down the long white paved pathway of the station. Gerry looked back as he seen Monica walking over to her blue car , she was the most gorgeous woman he'd ever met.
Brian had noticed Gerry's shyness as he was walking more slower behind, hands being in his jacket pockets.
"Blimey Gerry you haven't half gone red in the face" he teased, leaving his friend to remain silent shaking his head.
"No Gerry you're supposed to be on hoiliday... not here for chatting any of the gorgeous women instead" trying to remind himself not to get too involved in this case when him and Brian would return in the morning time to the Police station.
"Wait up... so what on you gonna tell Esther then" asking while walking side by side nexct to Brian who was looking straight ahead towards the busy traffic.
"I don't know but i'll have to tell her i suppose" he sighed looking downwards at the floor.
Gerry spoke about how the weather was probably going to be "Blimey this bloody heatwave eh they reckon on the Spanish news that it'll last a few more weeks so they say"
When Brian finally returned to the hotel., Esther had been reading her favourite novel book by Agatha Chriistie.
"You've been out nearly all day Brian... you haven't been to the cafe have you?" noticing that he had no shopping bags with him.
"Thats what i was about to tell yer actually" he looked nervous worring that she would flip out at him possibly ruining the holiday for the both of them.
"See i was in a taxi heading for the main city centre and the taxi got hijacked... driver was pulled out and thrown into another car"
"Oh Brian I'm sorry i didn't know" she walked over to hug her husband by the white door.
" Are you ok?" she asked looked serious and concerned as he remained quiet.
"Still a bit frightened" speaking in a softer tired voice.
"Come on we'll have an early night then" As they sat on the ed to watch the latest Spanish soap drama on the widescreen television
Next Chapter. which will be a bit dramatic Brian and Monica find out the identity of the kidnapper/attacker but fears grow as there is blood found in the back seat. Gerry ponders whether to ask Monica out on a date.
