Case 463: -185 hours

David Marlow stood quietly at the end of the street corner, cigarette hanging from his mouth, his hands buried in the pockets of his coat. He checked his watch. 11:45. He should have been at home sleeping. He had a plane to catch in the morning. He took a long puff off his cigarette and tapped the residual ash off it, watching as the small licks of light blew away in the wind. He made a mental note to grab another pack from a gas station or something before he went home to his apartment.

He leaned against one of the street lamps and pulled his collar up. He hated waiting, but he had specific orders. His eyes watched the bar across the street labeled "High Red" as men and women of different social ladders strolled from it, both only those majorly from the middle and upper class. He knew the man inside had a taste for class. As cold as it was, he had to wait for the house lights to turn up, an indication that it was empty for him to make his move.

After a few minutes and the last few stragglers made their way from the bar, the lights on the inside of the building turned on. He took a long, long drag off his cigarette and dropped it to the floor, twisting it beneath his shoe before crossing the street.

The High Red was a lounge for those with a little more money to throw around than others, a large black building on the outside with its name in large white and red fluorescent lights along the front. Two large glass doors with red carpets were at the entrance to greet him. It had been marked as a place of overpriced drinks and mediocre entertainment. Still. The location was not his decision.

A man in his late thirties stood at the door with a thick leather black jacket on. He wore sunglasses at midnight. A typical bouncer with a double digit IQ and a triple digit income. David stopped in place when the man held his hand out to stop him.

"I'm sorry, Sir, but we're closed for the evening. Why not come back tomorrow?"

David eyed the man up and down, taking into account his cheap Wal-Mart shoes, blue jeans and t-shirt under his jacket reading "High Red" on the right hand side. The man wore gloves. His hands must get cold easy. The balding blond man had two piercings on his right eyebrow and three on his left ear that ran along the rim. He looked as stupid as he sounded. But David, in his black sweater, brown leather jacket, black jeans and yellow and blue striped tie was not about to be stopped by this idiot. The packages in his pockets weighed a little heavier with the concept of being denied entrance.

"I'm not here for a drink. I want to talk to the man inside"

"I'm sure you do, Sir, but I'm afraid you will have to come back tomorrow"

"Not that man"

The bouncer gave pause for a moment, taking the man's face into consideration, looking over his stern look and his business like attire before taking a step to the side and holding the door open for him.

"He's on the piano"

Why had David expected him any other place?

As he took his first few steps into the lounge he was greeted by several of the employees with puzzled looks on their faces as to why he was inside the building. He ignored most of them. He had never really been inside this particular bar, but if any place was to be from the 1940's, this was it. It did have class about it with its glass tables and leather stools. Everything was clean and shiny, demanding attention and praise. A bar dressed to impress. But even with all its fanciness and chandeliers and its black marble dance floor, all David saw was a place to buy and consume alcohol. But then his ears caught the music in the air, the keys of the piano cutting through the silence of the bar, interrupted only by the woman behind the bar cleaning glasses.

He made his way towards the noise in a separate section of the bar behind the dance floor, spotting the black haired man sitting behind the piano, playing in a calming manner and singing quietly. The song had just started, and as David approached, his pace slowed to a stop to listen. He could have used a drink when he thought about it. He would wait for the song to be over first before he interrupted the man.

He moved to the bar, smiling at the girl behind it. She was clearly under the same ideas of not serving a patron after hours as the bouncer outside. But she seemed a little more willing when he opened his wallet and placed a fifty on the table.

"I'm with him"

He indicated the man behind the piano and the woman took one of the glasses off the stack

"Scotch on the rocks"

She poured him the drink after placing two ice cubes in his glass. She took the fifty happily and returned several bills in return. He put on a fake smile and left one on the counter once he had taken his drink, swirling it before taking a sip. It was ok.

Making his way back over to the piano, rather than interrupting the man, a mistake he was sure he would regret if he did, he sat on one of the leather stools as an audience member and watched the man.

He was too young to be in a place like this. Early 20's if that. He wore a black dress shirt and blazer buttoned up with a black silk tie hanging from his neck, a small gold chain pinned through the tie. His black slacks fit him comfortably to his 5'8-5'10 athletic build. On of his boots pressed down on one of the pedals beneath the instrument and his lips parted as he began to sing his song in a soft and respectable voice.

"She wore blue Velvet"

His fingers slowly danced along the keys as he sang, his eyes closed, singing to himself rather than to anyone else. David knew the song, but kept quiet rather than joining in or even humming to it.

"Bluer than velvet was the night"

He took a sip of his drink, careful not to make such a loud clink on the glass table as he set his drink down, tracing his thumb along the glass. He noticed the bottle of wine on the piano with the wine glass half empty beside it. They served him alcohol? That was illegal wasn't it?

"Softer than satin was the light from the stars"

It was illegal to serve a minor alcohol. How much had he consumed? David tried to see into the bottle with the light behind it. It was either empty or just past full. But his glass was half full... He had drunk the whole bottle.

"She wore blue velvet; bluer than velvet were her eyes"

Was he drunk? That seemed rather unprofessional for a Detective. Did anyone else know he was there? What about the case he was on?

"Warmer than May her tender sighs; love was ours"

This wasn't really turning out to be the meeting he had had in mind. A drunken detective under aged in a bar. Fucking fantastic. He took another hit off his drink, taking a larger gulp this time.

When the song was over, before David could stand up, the young man at the piano spoke first as he reached for his drink.

"Mr. Marlow I presume"

David stayed seated. The young man had been expecting him. The boy took a long sip off his wine and set the glass back down before placing his fingers back onto the keys, playing another song from the beginning, but not singing this time.

"I would like to thank you for not interrupting my performance as you entered. I understand presumably that you are a very busy man. I would hate to waste your time."

David stood up finally with his drink and made his way over to the piano, getting a good look at the fare skinned young man at the piano.

"Detective Chastity?"

The boy played his song a little faster now, speeding up the tempo.

"Please, Mr. Marlow. For the moment, let's pretend we're friends. Call me Sebastian"

David eyed the man, then the wine bottle. It was empty. He had gone through the whole thing. Sebastian followed the man's eyes with his own green eyes.

"Let's also not pretend that you really care if I'm drinking. And no. I'm not drunk."

He began to strike the keys of the piano with a little more force than necessary

"While most people are ending their evening at this time, I am only beginning mine"

"Weren't you on a case this morning?"

"Finished"

"When?"

"About six hours ago"

"Our case?"

"Your employer's case. WE have no business together"

"I work for him"

"And that means what exactly?"

"He wants results"

"Three squads were dispatched about thirty minutes ago to pick up our perpetrators. I expect them to have at least seven years each. Less they turn on one another. Expect that"

Sebastian stopped playing

"What do you want, Mr. Marlow? I would rather my whole evening not be taken up by this little transaction of ours"

David was a little hesitant now. His boss had told him that this boy was volatile when the right buttons were pushed. And he had a feeling that he was pushing all the buttons he needed to push. So rather than see what this boy could do, he cleared his throat and reached his hand into his left pocket, pulling a small envelope from it and setting it on the piano. Sebastian eyed the letter and placed his fingers back onto the keys, continuing his song, slower now.

"What's that?"

"A bonus. He already knew you had solved the case."

"I know. Tell him too keep the delivery boys out of my office next time."

"You knew?"

"There is very little that escapes my attention Mr. Marlow. Anything else?"

David reached into his other pocket, pulling a small clear bottle carrying a yellow liquid inside, setting it on the piano. Sebastian stopped playing, looking at the bottle as a small smile spread across his face. He picked it up, turning it over to look at the label. He pulled the top from it and dipped his pinky finger into it before drawing it to his lips. It was delicious.

"Oh this is special. Please give him my thanks"

"He had that imported directly from Italy"

"He has good taste."

David let out a small sigh of relief. His employer had told him to make sure he had received the bottle above all else. But in all honesty, he was just happy to have it out of his pocket.

Sebastian set the bottle back onto the top of the piano. Olive oil. Superb. He couldn't wait to have some of it with breakfast in a few hours. This was turning out to be quite the nice evening. Wine, a job completed, a bonus, and now olive oil. He loved eating. He loved cooking. Quality and freshness made all the difference. And you couldn't get more fresh than this.

"If your employer needs anything else done, please give him my number. My cell is always on"

David nodded his head, tilting his head back to drink the last of his scotch, the ice cubes rattling around in his glass with the tilt as he set it down on the piano.

"If our business if concluded Detective Chastity, I will be on my way"

Sebastian stood up to shake the man's hand firmly

"Have a good morning Mr. Marlow"

"You too, Detective"

David shook the young man's hand in return; a little surprised his grip was so firm. He smiled and took his leave, so happy he could just go home and sleep now. But as he moved to leave, a thought struck him just out of curiosity and he turned to face the detective again.

"Why is no one is bothering you? This bar is closed isn't it?"

Sebastian smiled a little as he slid the index finger of his right hand across of the higher keys at the end of the piano, his body rocking with his own tempo.

"I did some work for the owner a few months ago. Since then he lets me play until they lock up for the night. So I have about two hours to myself from the time the last patron leaves to the time the last employee leaves. A fair business arrangement if you ask me."

"And the alcohol to a minor?"

Sebastian's smile grew a little wider

"As long as I pay them, no one ever cards me"

He played with only his right hand as he grabbed for his drink again, sipping at the remaining amount of his drink before he returned to playing.

"Good evening "

Taking that as a polite 'Fuck off," David took several steps back from his spot before turning around to leave the bar. He was going to sleep well tonight. As he left he waved to the girl behind the bar who smiled as she left her place behind the bar to go and get the glass he had left on the piano as well as to collect the boys drink as well. He pulled his collar up and crossed his coat over his chest, zipping it up as the wind picked up. Tonight was going to suck, but at least he was done with work and could go home and get about four hours of sleep before his plane.

The blond girl tried to make a quiet approach to the boy, even though heels on marble was hard to dampen the noise of at this quiet a time in the night. Sebastian glanced up only quickly to look at her, smiling sweetly as she approached. She smiled back although he had looked back down at the keys before closing his eyes. She took the man's glass in one hand and Sebastian's in the other. She spoke quietly.

"So…do you have any plans later tonight?"

He smiled and opened his eyes again as he looked up to her

"I appreciate the offer, Carmen, but I'm too crazy for you"

She looked disappointed. A girl as pretty as her wasn't told 'no' often.

"Oh come on Seb. You've been coming here for weeks you have barely said one word to me. Maybe I like crazy. How about we get breakfast?"

He slowed his playing.

"I appreciate it, Carmen, I really do. A pretty girl like you knows what she wants. But you don't want me."

He returned to his playing.

"I come with a lot of baggage. I don't want to push it onto anyone."

"Not even breakfast?"

"Not even an exchange of numbers"

He winked at her. She smiled in return with a sigh.

"Well if you change your mind, my offer will still be open"

He nodded and looked back down at his keys, never stopping his sway as he changed songs, turning his head ever so slightly and cracking his eyes to watch her hips sway as she walked away. The growl in his head let lose a few quiet words.

"Shut up. Last thing I need is you inside my head while I'm trying to have sex."

It growled but quickly grew silent.

At about 1:37am, the bouncer had decided to leave his post to go home, saying a quick few goodbyes to the employees and the man at the piano. He had been working there three weeks and no one would tell him the boy's name. Sebastian had considered him temporary help with the establishment and therefore didn't want to form a connection with the man in any way. That, and the growl didn't like him. That was good enough a reason as any for the detective. But he was still friendly to him and gave him a small wave as he left to go home which left the detective and Carmen alone.

Carmen, by order from the owner, had to clear up, clean up, and be done by 2am once the cleaners had left. They were on the second floor finishing their vacuuming of the nice red carpet. Sebastian often wondered how much filth would be pulled from it when they washed the carpet. How many different shades of black and brown would be dumped before clear would come up? Had they ever washed it? The notion that they never did sent a shiver through him which became harder and harder to suppress whenever he thought of it. Disgusting.

Sebastian let out a small yawn as he leaned back in his seat, adjusting his belt and shifting around the pouches containing his handcuffs, flashlight, and gun; a M1911 pistol. Not particularly standard issue, but he preferred it, and with the right string pulled had barely managed to get it OK'd as his sidearm. Of which he was still appreciative. Above all, he preferred not to use it. But there had been times where it had been deemed necessary.

When the shattering of glass struck his ears, his heart rate sped up and the growl in his head began to get louder. His eyes traveled to Carmen who had dropped one of the thick glasses mostly used for soft drinks, causing the thick glass to shatter on the ground. Her eyes were stuck on the man in front of her, mouth slightly agape but no scream coming from her lips as she backed up and pressed herself up against the wall trying to get away from the man with nowhere really to go. The man in front of her was a little older than her, mid to late 20's. He wore a black hoodie and blue jeans with red sneakers. Sebastian had a slight moment of disappointment. Why wear red? Wasn't he trying to be inconspicuous?

Sebastian's fingers slid back from the keys as he watched the man with the knife demand the money in the register before he formed a plan and his heart sped up again, listening to the voice in his head but speaking to himself, quietly. Fourteen steps from his position to the bar, 1.2 to get around the piano. Brace hand on dance floor when shoes slip. He would need about 4 second distraction to get to the man. Slowly as Carmen opened the register to the yelling man, Sebastian pushed himself back in his seat, eyes on the man. He hadn't been seen. Had he not heard the piano? He spoke quietly to himself, glancing down to the little stool beside the piano used for the singers to get up and lie and sit on the piano in their dresses.

"What do you think? Bottle stool or stool bottle?"

When the voice replied he took a deep breath. Don't miss. Don't you dare miss.

His hand gripped the empty wine bottle on the piano and hurled it hard at the man, aiming for the center of his back. If he struck him in the head at that angle, he could likely kill the man. And he didn't want that. But as the bottle hurled through the air and Sebastian began his dash, he leaned down to grab the stool, throwing it as well through the air as he made his b-line for the man. Carmen, seeing the objects coming, ducked down behind the bar, covering her ears. The man screamed at her again but lost all air in his lungs as the thick bottle collided with his shoulder, shattering against the bone in his scrawny shoulder but he didn't falter even as the glass splashed across his upper body. Instead, he turned to his would be attacker and fell back against the bar as the stool collided with his chest. Sebastian had indeed faltered on the dance floor but caught himself on his hands as the stool hit the man.

One second left.

Sebastian pushed hard off his legs for an extra burst of speed and drove his fist deep into the man's stomach. The man dropped the knife, both his hands coming to his stomach, unable to breathe having been struck in the diaphragm. Sebastian's fist rose past the man's face on the way up, striking him on the tip of his jaw with his elbow, fracturing it but not breaking it. The man fell to his knees which had given way under the shock and finally dropped to the ground when the elbow that struck his jaw drove down on top of his head, sending him to the floor in dead weight, unconscious. The whole even had happened so fast that he never had a moment to react.

Sebastian grit his teeth and clenched and unclenched his fists. The voice in his head let out a small huff of disappointment. It had half hoped the man to put up a bigger fight. Sebastian on the other hand was glad it was over quickly. Knife on fist fights never ended well. He leaned down, opening the pouch on the side of his belt and handcuffed the man. As he stood back up, Carmen was just pulling herself up from behind the bar, looking over at the body of the man on the floor.

"Is he dead?"

"Afraid not. Just unconscious. And in for a long recovery I'm afraid."

Sebastian said the end of his sentence as he sat down at the bar.

"Can I use the bar's phone?"

Carmen, lost for words, pulled the dial telephone from out behind the bar. He was a little intrigued. All this fancy stuff and the owner couldn't swing for a better form of communication? He picked up the receiver and began to dial his number, looking to Carmen as he waited for it to ring.

"The man who was in here before with me, what did he drink?"

She stuttered as she tried to speak, the adrenaline still pumping strong in her body.

"S-s-scotch"

"I'll have one of those, please"

Carmen followed orders perfectly when she was up on adrenaline as she moved to make his drink with shaking hands. Maybe he would go home with her after all. As soon as the thought crossed his mind and the growl in his head seemed to laugh he pushed it aside, just waiting for the person on the other line to pick up. The voice was gruff on the other side from years of smoking.

"Hello?"

"Good evening Donald, it's detective Chastity. How did the arrests go?"

The man on the other end laughed for a few moments.

"You were right. They didn't make it half way through the trip back before they began to turn on one another. What can I do for you? I assume you need something"

"Good to hear it Captain. I need you to send an ambulance down to High Red. I have a man here, attempted robbery, with a fractured jaw, possible internal bleeding-"

Carmen put the drink in front of him and he smiled mouthing "Thank you." Her legs began to shake and she braced herself on the bar to keep from falling over.

"-and send a few men to the hospital. Once he wakes up it is imperative someone read him his rights. Understood?"

"I'll send one over right away, Detective. By the way, I was supposed to tell you that you have been put on a new assignment effective immediately"

Sebastian beckoned Carmen closer and he pulled the pen from her breast pocket, writing down the details on his napkin.

"Go ahead"

Sebastian listened to the case, squinting as he wrote down the note before pausing.

"You will have to forgive me captain, did you say Japan?"

He rolled his eyes and wrote down the name, location, handler, and travel arrangements.

"So in one week?"

He underlined his flight number.

"How many dead?"

A small smile stretched on his face as he wrote down the digit.

"Inform them I will be present. Who do we get in return?"

…..

"Will he be useful?"

…..

"Perfect. Thank you Captain"

He set the phone down on its receiver and went for his drink, drinking the scotch in one attempt. When the glass hit the bar, he bit down on his own tongue, letting out a small cough.

"Not a personal preference, Mr. Marlow"

He smiled at the shaking girl and slipped the pen back into her breast pocket.

"Have a good night Carmen. Might see you later this week."

As he stood from his seat to leave, she called out to him

"Hey! What am I supposed to do with him?"

"If he wakes up before the ambulance gets here, hit him in the face"

He pulled his wallet from his breast pocket, setting a one hundred dollar bill on the table.

"For the scotch and the bottle of wine. Keep the change. Get yourself something nice. I would also suggest taking tomorrow off. You could easily get off work due to stress with this."

He winked at her when she smiled before taking his leave, going for his car. He wanted to go home.

"Also fire the bouncer for not locking the door."

When the doors closed behind him, Carmen let out a loud sigh and dropped to her knees behind the bar, taking deep breaths trying to stop herself from shaking. But when she heard the doors a second time, she peered over the bar to see the young Detective walking back across the room towards the piano.

"Forgot my things"

Case 463: -182