Chapter 4

"I don't even like coffee." Said Miklotov, looking tentatively at his mug of steaming brown liquid.

"Why did you agree to come then?" Said Camus, his voice trailing off as he checked out a particularly good looking waitresses behind

"'Cause I wanted to keep you company." Said Miklotov

"And you bought three cups because…?" Camus asked, his voice trailing off on purpose this time

"Because I like to shop." Camus snorted into his coffee, Miklotov scowled "Shut up." Camus was about to say something when he saw someone familiar, she was a short, very good looking woman, she had platinum blonde hair and large blue eyes, she had a pale complexion that only added to her innocent allure. Camus gulped

"Don't look now bud, but there's your ex girlfriend." He said, Miklotov went pale

"Hide me." He choked

"What?"

"Hide me, I can't let her see me, it would be awkward" he said, climbing under the table and hiding himself in Camus' jacket

"And this isn't awkward?" Said Camus, but before he could kick Miklotov from his hiding place the young woman saw him, she waved at the fair haired policeman and walked purposefully over.

"Hey Camus." She said, sitting down "I haven't seen you in ages, your looking good." She said, batting her come hither eyelashes

"Likewise." Said Camus, grinning nervously

"You didn't really hang round while me and Miklotov were dating, I never got a chance to get to know you…" She moved her leg forward in order to play footsy and it connected with Miklotov "What the!?" She exclaimed.

Camus broke into a sweat, why the fuck did his friend have to be so petty and stupid, why couldn't he have faced the situation like an adult? Why the hell did he have to hide under the table? And now she'd found him, Camus wasn't going to bail his ass, but when he looked down and saw the desperate expression on his friends face, he knew he had to do something.

"Emma, don't say anything please but, this guy is a drug baron I just hauled in, I'm taking him back to the station and I decided to get some coffee." He said, lying rather well for someone in his situation, Emma's surprised expression turned to delight and excitement

"You can trust me officer." She said, bending in close to Camus and kissing him on the cheek, "Call me." She said quietly and walked away. Camus sighed, and grabbed Miklotov roughly, Camus' jacket still covering his head, and pushed him out the restaurant (if that is what you could call it.). Once outside, Miklotov removed the jacket and pushed it roughly into Camus' arms.

"I cannot believe that woman!" He said, raising his arms in the air dramatically "She was all over you!"

"Jesus Mikki! This is not about that, this is about me lying to you and you becoming a mature adult, that was the fucking stupidest thing I have ever seen!" He said as the two walked down to Camus' apartment, it was heading towards evening and they were going to watch the game and have a few beers, but Miklotov was no longer in the mood.

"I mean, we only separated four weeks."

"That's ample time for her to get interested in your better looking friend." Said Camus, smirking, Miklotov had to hold himself back, Camus noticed his friends annoyance "Dude, she was a skank, don't worry about it." He said, hoping Miklotov hadn't heard here ask him to call her.

"I'm glad she didn't ask you too call her." Said Miklotov finally, a little too convenient, Camus thought, but he was still thankful.

They walked up the steps of his apartment, he opened the door and moved down the corridor to his apartment. The two walked inside and sat down on his couch, the apartment was spacious and covered with junk Camus' had picked up while drunk, there a tire hanging on the wall, a basketball carved out, cleaned and used as a bowl and other stupid things. Miklotov did not approve, his apartment was completely clean, practically everything put in categories, however he kind of enjoyed the stark contrast, it made a nice change as loathe as he was to admit it.

Camus switched on the game and opened a can of beer, suddenly they heard a knock at the door, Camus walked over, whoever it was knocked again

"Coming!" Camus shouted and he opened his apartment door. No one was there, but there was a letter. Camus checked right and left, trying to see who was there, he then bent down and picked up the letter, opening it. It said

"Dear Mr policeman,

We need to talk, meet me at the docks tomorrow at ten o'clock. We have important matters to discuss."

Camus looked puzzled and pocketed the letter. He walked back into the apartment and sat down.

"Who was that?"

"Girl scout, she was selling cookies."

"And you didn't buy one?"

"No."

"Ass."

The two sat in silence for a bit, watching the game and drinking their beers, then Miklotov turned to Camus almost halfway through the game

"Camus?" He said

"What?" Said Camus, not taking his eyes off the game

"Do you find Emma attractive?"

"Shut up and watch the game Mikki."

"Answer the question." Said Miklotov, annoyed at being called by his nickname

"Look, who can't find that little minx attractive, but seriously, I'm not gonna do anything." Miklotov seemed unsure but let it slide and eased back into his seat.

A little later, Miklotov left for his own apartment, he hadn't really been watching the game, he'd been thinking about Emma, its not that he missed her, its that she acted so flirtatious with Camus, he wondered whether she had ever been unfaithful to him during their relationship. He walked the short distance to his apartment and did something he had never don before, he flopped down on his bed, he didn't get changed or take a shower or put his shoes neatly by the door, he just flopped limply onto his bed and with a groan of

"Life sucks."

Fell asleep.

Camus meanwhile, was mulling over the letter, he did not know who it could be from, could it be a trap? He didn't know but he wanted to try and find out, however unlike his friend, Camus had to think situations out before taking any risks. He sat for ten minutes thinking about different ways he could die and then walkec out his apartment.

Due to the beers he had drank, Camus didn't take the car, he instead walked the short distance to the dicks, the night air was serene and cool, it felt really nice, it would have sounded nice had the gull and waves not been drowned out by the curing of drunk dock workers and the sounds of a young couple copulating behind a dumpster. Camus walked on, he didn't know why but he knew he wouldn't meet the messenger here, he walked on until the swearing and panting stopped and it was just him, standing on the gravel, listening to the wind on the almost calm waters, he heard footsteps and turned round quickly, he didn't have his gun, he never took it with him off duty, he wished he had it now. He saw the silhouette of a broad shouldered man walking towards him, when he came closer Camus was able to make him out, he was average to short in height and muscular, he had a man of untamed black hair and his face was smiling.

"Hey buddy." He said, Camus looked puzzled

"Who are you?" he said, but the man just smiled and winked as Camus felt the stick smash off the back of his head, he fell to the floor and his world went black…