The Warrant

A Story by han_jua

First piece only

I sit in my office with a red teapot of steaming Geisha green tea, papers strewn across the desk and the clock ticking in the background. I can hear rain pounding on the tin roof at the back of the building and sirens wailing somewhere off in the distance. I look up. I lock eyes with his. His mouth is down turned into a frown. His eyebrows are furrowed. The photo doesn't do him any justice - he looks angry, annoyed, flustered and years older than he really is. He's usually very suave, calm and flashing two rows of perfect pearly whites for whatever camera is pointed his way.

"What smells like boiled grass?" I look over and see my partner standing in the doorway to my office, one eyebrow raised and a piece of celery sticking out of his fat lips. The man's wife has him on some healthy diet, but as far as I'm concerned all it does is give him horrendous gas.

"It's green tea, Sherwin - it's good for you and delicious." I say, pursing my lips. I can tell by his expression he's just let one rip. I tug my cup closer to me, hoping the tea will cover any smell he's now emitting.

"Smells like boiled grass." Sherwin insists, sucking on his celery stick. I give him a withering look.

"Anything's better than your natural odour these days." I retort. Sherwin snorts and takes a bite of his snack.

"You got bowel issues? Is that why you're drinking that crap?" He asks.

"I'm taking a moment to collect my thoughts. It's very calming, drinking tea"

"What do you have to be calm about?"

"I've got a warrant here. The warrant for the penthouse." I reply, avoiding Sherwin's quizzical look.

"You have what?" He asks, yanking the celery out of his mouth and stepping into my tiny old office. I nod at the door and he shuts it behind him.

"It came through 40 minutes ago, but I'm just taking a minute to collect my thoughts and be set on a plan of action..." I say. Sherwin holds up his chubby hands and glares at me.

"What are we still doing here?!" He yells, "Why aren't we there, arresting the bloomin' wacko?!" I look back at him, calm as a cucumber.

"Because the media is already having a field day, we already arrested the wrong man once and this guy has already requested a restraining order against us - it's a pure miracle I have a warrant to use. This needs to be carefully planned and professionally carried out." I reply. The Chief had already blown a gasket or two in his speech about how Sherwin and I are off the case until everything has settled down and is done by the book...

"The freaking idiot is guilty as they come, Addison! Let's go, let's go!" Sherwin rages on at me.

"We will - relax...the Govenor is going to be read his rights today - but first, there's something we need to discuss about this 'warrant'..."

-HJ2014