Chapter 2: Not Quite Condensed
"Okay, book 'em, guys," Ray Kowalski practically ordered Detectives Huey and Dewey, as Fraser watched on.
The four were standing just outside the interrogation room at the station with the suspect inside. His name was found to be Collin Nicholson (thanks to a little tardy yet nearly apt Francesca, the Civilian Aide who happened to be Ray's sister).
At this point, Ray was forcibly trying to accelerate the process so he could get back on his hunt for the most wanted man.
"Look, Kowalski," Huey said as a matter-of-fact. "Procedure is to the question the perp first."
"Ahhh, come on," the blonde detective answered. "We were there. Fraser and I saw it with our own eyes. Why waste the time?"
Dewey joined in. "This is your squabble. What happened to you always trying to keep us out of your cases?"
Kowalski, grinning a bit, turned up his persuasiveness by adding a 'buddy' element and moving a little closer as if having a more one-on-one with Dewey. "Hey, I know that in the past I tended to be a little stubborn. But I've come to figure that what's our station gonna come to be if we don't help each other out once in a while?"
Dewey looked over at Huey, who shook his head and turned up his hands over as if to say, 'I'm game'.
Ray gave a quick pat on the shoulder to Dewey, and nodded at Huey, with a look of satisfaction. In the corner of his eye, he could almost feel Fraser's disapproval. He brushed it off.
Before anyone could move, Francesca came by. "So, how's the chase going for the most wanted man?" she inquired towards her brother.
Kowalski widened his eyes and turned to Francesca, giving her a warning look. "What are you talking about?"
"It's just that Fraser told me-"
"Well, what Fraser told you could be old news. Right, Fraser? Sometimes we shouldn't go around telling people our business," Ray continued, trying to keep his cover.
Huey and Dewey look at each other, as if saying, 'Do you want to tell him?'
Huey spoke up. "Actually, the Lieutenant told us-"
"At least the most of us who were here this morning," Dewey unsubtly added.
"-that the majority of our time is required on the cases assigned. No one is permitted to work on the F.B.I. files. Welsh doesn't like the station's dollars being used on some search when more work can be done - at least for now," Huey finished.
Ray made a grunted noise. Suddenly, at a realization, he whipped around to Fraser. "You knew about this, didn't you?"
The Mountie cleared his throat. "I didn't know officially, but I picked up some pieces of conversation earlier and-"
Ray made another grunting noise. "Let's just hit up Nicholson then." At that, he swung open the door to the interrogation room.
Francesca started conversing with Huey and Dewey about something that she had scrounged up for them.
Fraser remained standing, as he had those few minutes, and then finally decided to join Kowalski inside with Nicholson.
The American, using one of his most known techniques, was staring Nicholson down.
"Uh, Ray. Before you start I wanted to ask you something."
Nicholson interrupted with his concerns. "I know my rights. I'm kinda thirsty. Do you have any chocolate milk?"
Never taking his eyes off of Nicholson, and ignoring the overly bizarre statement of the soon-to-be prisoner, the blonde replied to the Mountie. "Shoot."
"What was that you were saying about helping each other out in the station?"
"Oh yeah. That was easy," Ray responded, much like the way he had before. "I just thought of what you might say and I said it." He wiped his nose, and then spat to the side, ready to prey on Nicholson.
"Hm," the Mountie thought aloud.
Ray rolled his eyes. "What is it now, Fraser," he turned and faced his friend.
"I just, I never thought that I sounded like that," the Mountie pondered.
"Maybe not 'exactly', but close enough. Now," Kowalski stated, and turned back around to his defendant. He leaned his arms on the table across from where Nicholson was sitting. "Time to bag this chump."
Side note: Thank you, johnsparrow, for your review :) If there are any others, I would love to hear from you!