We're off to see the Nard Dog. Let's see what Brass makes of our dear Andy.

Chapter Thirteen: Anger Management

It was another long drive to his next suspect's location so Brass had gotten up a couple of hours before his shift to get a head start on traffic. Andrew Bernard was staying in a hotel just outside New York for his anger management training. He had no record, not even a parking ticket to his name and a decent educational background. Nothing else had come from his research and he had made no complaints to Human Resources about Halpert. There was a box full of complaints by Dwight Schrute but his alibi had eventually checked out. The cousin was so odd Schrute seemed practically normal by comparison. No one else had made any meaningful complaints.

Brass had gotten a call late last night that his victim had deteriorated in the night but was stable once again. He was honestly surprised he'd gotten this far, he was expecting him to be on the slab by the end of the first day.

He hoped that something would come of today's enquiries. His case against Roy Anderson was shaky at best without further proof. He'd shown a personnel picture to Mark Ellis, the friend who was the last person to see Jim before the attack, but he didn't recognise Anderson from that night. He'd seen him before though; apparently the warehouse workers drink there a lot. The owner who was there that night said Roy hadn't been there but it had been a busy night. Brass had tried for a warrant but got turned down on everything, even the truck, much to his cursing fury when he hung up the phone. His boss fancied the Filippelli brother for the crime so wouldn't issue another warrant until the report on the moving van came back. That would be done in a few hours hopefully.

The threads of this case seemed to be spilling everywhere and he was being constantly held up by the understaffed lab. He knew Jennifer was doing the best she could but this could become a murder case any second and it kept getting sidelined for quick and easy cases. He had the Filippelli brother, Anderson and now Bernard as potential suspects but nothing concrete. The hold ups at the lab were making it difficult to get warrants and time was of the essence.

He arrived at the building where Andrew Bernard was taking his class. A few polite requests later and the suspect was pulled out his 'Breathing and Calm' seminar. He was not anticipating the man walking towards him. Corduroy slacks and a woollen argyle pullover on top of a pink shirt with a complimentary silk striped tie. The soft brown loafers he was wearing didn't fit with the boot print either but he looked like the type who'd own hiking boots. He didn't look in the slightest bit intimidating but anyone armed with a lug wrench and a temper could be dangerous. There was still a sense that he was clutching at straws with this one.

"Mr Bernard?"

"Please, call me Andy!" He said cheerfully with a stiff smile. "That or the Nard-Dog! What can I do for you, my good friend?"

"I'm Captain Brass, Scranton PD; I need you to come answer some questions."

"Is my mom ok? My dad?" His face dropped.

"I'm here about one of your co-workers, Jim Halpert."

"Tuna! Biiig Tuna!"

"Sorry, what?"

"Tuna! That's my nickname for the Halperino, we're tight, like best buds, he calls me Andy or, well just Andy but it's all good. What's up with him?"

"Come with me." Brass guided him to a more private but still open area. "Can you tell me your whereabouts on Sunday evening through to Monday morning?"

"Dude, you're like totally serious, what's up with the Tuna?"

"Just answer the question and don't call me dude."

"Uh, well I went to visit my parents on Saturday because they were en route to here, they live in Montauk. I was there on Sunday night, mom baked a trout that was totally awesome and we had dessert, then we talked for a bit and I went to bed. I left early Monday to sign in here."

"Ok, I'll need your parent's details so I can confirm everything you just said."

"Why? I mean my parents would totally lie for me if I asked."

Brass cocked his head, he'd met some dumb criminals in his time but that was something special. "I'm not sure you understand the severity of the situation Mr Bernard, Mr Halpert was attacked."

His brows furrowed together in confusion, "Who'd attack the Tuna?" He asked sadly.

"He was the guy who hid your phone right? You punched a wall?"

"Oh that."

"Yes, that. You ever go to Poor Richards? Did you go to drown your sorrows about getting shipped off to anger management because of Halpert? Maybe you saw him and decided to get a
little payback?"

"Tuna's my man! And I've never won a fight in my life, I know with the whole 'punching the wall' thing it looks kinda bad but Jim's my friend, he's totally cool. He was just messing around."

Brass assessed his clothing again. He looked like he came from money. "Bet I guy like you is well connected, you can get people to fight your battles for you. Pay for protection from high school bullies and stuff."

"My dad said I should fight my own battles. Ended up with my jaw wired shut for a bit but I learnt that lesson!" He said happily. Brass could see how much he repressed his anger. Doesn't
make him a killer though.

"You know people though, people that could do some dirty work. You think someone with a score to settle might call them up?"

"You mean me, right? I mean I watch Law and Order and all that stuff, I have an alibi and frankly, Jimbo could kick my Cornell educated behind."

"Not if you were armed."

"Armed? Oh my god, someone shot, Jim? Someone tried to smoke the Tuna?"

If this guy was playing dumb he was hamming up big time. Brass decided it was time to test whether his distress was genuine.

"Look, Bernard, here's the deal." Brass pulled out a photo of Halpert's face that Jennifer had provided and thrust it in front of him. Bernard's face contorted in horror and turned green before he dashed away around the corner. Brass followed and found him in the men's bathroom heaving into a toilet. Brass gave him a moment to emerge.

"You should warn a dude, it's like a courtesy." He muttered.

"So, the guys you hired went a bit further than you wanted, huh?" He pressed but it felt like the battle was already lost.

"What do you want? Financial records, phone records? You want it, you got it. I'm a lover not a fighter, man."

"I'll take all that if you're offering it voluntarily. I'd like your car too, the Xterra."

"Fine. I was planning on buying a Prius, I'm on the waiting list. Is Jim going to be ok?"

"They don't know."

"Oh man. I should go visit him, he's a really good guy, I bet Karen's upset."

"They broke up."

"Oh, no wonder she didn't call. She know about what happened?"

"Yeah, I went and spoke to her and her brother."

"Tommy?" Andy snorted. "He's trouble, keyed my car and then denied it, straight to my face! He's so uncool, you don't mess with a guy's ride."

"Why'd he do it?"

"Said I was looking at Karen all funny. I mean, she's a hot tamale and I would totally hit that but it wasn't going to happen. She made that very clear; it was a no fly zone for this fly guy.
This topgun wasn't getting clearance for the coc-"

"Yeah, I get it. You know anyone who might want to hurt Jim?"

"Everyone wanted a good piece of the Tuna, man, he's a cool guy. Even Dwight man, they'd get paired up on sales calls and they'd always come back with the bacon. They're the reason our branch leads in sales. Maybe he was a player; he's all kinds of hot, well before that." He pointed towards the file with the pictures. "I totally would, you know, if I were gay. I'm not gay. I dig chicks. I'm not into guys, no siree! I'm Nard Dog the hound dog!" He tried to cheer up but he still looked green around the gills.

"Yeah, I get that." Brass remarked dryly. No wonder Halpert decided to prank this guy, he wondered if his ring tone was as annoying as he appeared to be. "So you were out of town at the time of the attack and you didn't hire anyone to hurt him?"

"Of course not, I hope you find out who did it, Jim's a real sweet guy, even tried to help me hook up when I got to Scranton."

"You know if you did hire some guys to get your own back, you could help yourself by telling us because we will find out, might be able to shave of some years, make a deal."

"You can have whatever you want du-, uh Captain, I'm innocent of all charges."

"You know if Jim had any problem with Roy at the office?"

"Dude from the warehouse?" Andy asked before rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Roy was always coming up for sodas and snacks, thought maybe he was digging on Pam, the receptionist or maybe Karen but she was Halpert's lady of lurve."

"Anything else you think I should know?"

"Can't think of anything. Why do you think it was someone who knew him? What if it was just some dude and Tuna was in the wrong place at the wrong time? He's just a normal, slightly hotter than average guy."

"Thanks for your cooperation Mr Bernard, I'll have a few uniformed officers collect everything we need and have you sign some papers for your bank details."

"However I can help, just keep looking for the guy you did this, you didn't just Photoshop that to see my reaction did you because I know some guys who are like Photoshop demons, they can put any celebrities face on a pornstar's body and make it look seamless. Like naked perfection."

"Uh, no." Brass took the tack of just letting the guy talk; stopping him seemed like a waste of energy. He understood why no one connected the guy to the beating, he wouldn't get his
hands dirty but he couldn't shake that nagging doubt that he would pay someone to do it for him. "I'll be in touch, don't leave the state until we've processed your stuff, ok?"

"Sure thing."

Brass left him to clean himself up and made a call from the parking lot.

"Jenn, please tell me you've got something."

"I've only just gotten in, gimme a sec..." Brass could hear the rustling of papers, "oh, sorry Jim, everything on the Filippelli brother came back clean."

"I'm gonna have a lot more for you soon, an Xterra and some financial records, but I wanna get a warrant on Anderson's Ford F-150, if I get it, that's your priority. I'm tired of dicking
around."

"So you don't fancy Mr Anger Management?"

"Maybe if he paid someone but I'm liking the jealous ex-fiance more, you've always got to go for jealousy. Bernard... I just don't feel it. I'm gonna make some calls. You get the report in
yet?"

"Sent off ten minutes ago."

"Great, shouldn't have a problem, bye Jennifer." He hung up and went to dial for a warrant but had an incoming call instead.

"Brass."

"Schrute. You said I should call if I had anything useful, I believe I do."

Did Dwight discover something on his out of state adventure... we'll have to wait and see.

This is the first time I've ever written Andy and I'd love to know what you made of him. Too over the top? I kinda wanted to catch his nervousness and that he'd ramble a little under the pressure. He's not a guy used to getting attention from the law.

Next chapter shouldn't be long, see you then!