Chapter 3: Threats Aren't Always Empty
"I'm telling you man, Chief Schuette's been giving this… this look all morning since I came in."
"Are you sure you're not just imagining it?" Alfred yawned, only half-listening to what Rick was saying. "Doesn't he have that one look he gives everybody in the morning?"
"Nah man, it's like he watching me." the man gave his partner a concerned look.
"He's watching everyone Rick." now the blonde was just getting annoyed. He had been asleep on the breakroom table with a cold pot of coffee until only ten minutes prior. "Please tell me you didn't wake me up just because chief is suddenly giving you the willies."
"I'm serious!"
"So am I." he muttered. "I dunno, maybe he's just wanting to see how we work around things."
"Sure, sure."
"Haha I'm gonna go take a shower."
"Good, you're starting smell pretty ripe man."
"Shut up." Alfred smacked his partner's shoulder as he passed by, heading for a back hallway, and ultimately for the lockerroom. He made a quick stop by his locker before heading into the back to where the showers were for the overnight shifts. It wasn't long before he was able to unwind under the steady flow of hot water, but his peace was cut short when he heard his cellphone ringing. He decided to ignore it, so it wasn't long before the ringing ceased, but only a few minutes later he heard a new tone begin to blare. It was a tone for calls with a high priority or emergency setting, so he hurried to get out of the shower without breaking his neck. He barely missed it, and decided to throw on his uniform as he went to his voicemail.
{Hey Alfred, this is Savannah. Remember your offer yesterday night? Well if you're not busy I could use a hand...} Alfred froze, his hand still stuck in the waistband of his slacks where he was trying to tuck in his black undershirt. {I'm at Davie's old school right now, uh he's here too. We came out to get in the car and leave but all the tires are slashed.}
He didn't wait to hear anymore. His phone was stuffed in his pocket so he could grab his shoes and a shirt and dash out of the locker room. Other officers looked at him like he was crazy, yelling little jokes after him as he hurried to the elevator, and even Rick seemed concerned. He made it into his car in record time, and found himself thinking back to the voicemail.
Now, only half dressed, he was hurrying to Davie's school (now old school) to give the boy and his mother a ride to a car shop. He arrived just in time to see the tow truck taking her lexus away, the pair standing on the side of the road and pulled up to them. The two exchanged relieved looks as they slid into his mustang, and as soon they were buckled in he was taking off again, though he didn't miss the concerned grunt Savannah gave when she had to move his tossed aside boots to the backseat in order to sit down in the front.
But he ignored her looked."What happened?"
"We came out from getting his papers, and the tires had been slashed." Savannah looked ticked. "Thankfully insurance will cover it, but I'm just worried. I don't know who would've done it."
"Want a list?" Davie muttered in the back.
"Actually yes." Alfred glanced at him through the rear-view. "Can you make one?"
"Of course I can."
The woman up front nodded. "He always gets the full names. I taught him well."
"Yes you did." the man glanced at her, pulling up at the car shop. "You go get your car but... would you mind if I took Davie home? I want to talk to him where he doesn't have to worry about you storming up to the school with a pistol."
"I would never!" she huffed. "But fine."
"See you at home mom." Davie kissed his mom on the cheek as he took her spot in the front seat. "Love you."
"Love you too Davie." she ruffled his hair before darting off after a mechanic. Left alone, the boys started toward their apartment. They rode in silence for a few minutes, the only noise coming from the radio, until Alfred cut it off.
"Davie, I want you to listen to me, and listen good. When you write that list, I want you to write down every threat made against you recently, and any odd things that have happened, no matter how meaningless you think it might be."
"Why?" the boy looked concerned.
"I have a bad feeling about Savannah's tires being slashed the day after you get jumped in the hallway." he glanced at him. "It may just be me, but if the two are connected you'll thank me later."
"Alright, I'll trust you on this."
"Not a word to your mother until I know for sure. Just... be careful? And keep an eye on her."
"Of course." Davie watched Alfred pull up to the building. "Don't worry, I got it."
"Good." the detective watched the lad climbed out of the car. "Send the list with your mom, but put it in an envelope."
"Okay." As soon as he was at the door of the building, his chaperone tore out, speeding back toward the precinct. Savannah arrived soon after, and met her son at the elevators. She gave him a look, and it was one he knew all too well.
"He was just worried about you mom." Davie allowed her to enter the elevator ahead of him. "He wanted to tell me to keep an eye on you."
"Uh-huh," she narrowed her eyes. "You're a horrible liar."
"That's because I'm not lying, I'm just not telling you everything. And before you ask, no, I don't plan on telling you everything." the boy smirked. "But don't worry, I know what I'm doing."