Chereads / Damage Controllers / Chapter 58 - I Say It Because I Can

Chapter 58 - I Say It Because I Can

Jack and Bob arrive at the precinct in Greenwich Village. They see a man there talking loud indeed.

Captain Rogers immediately asks them to come to his office.

"That's the guy, right?" Bob asks.

"Yeah. Can't get rid of him. His name is Ed. He is here again, telling us how his wife did not commit suicide. He believes his wife is murdered. We are all so damn tired of hearing his shit." Captain Rogers says impatiently. "Go on, now. Get rid of him."

Bob and Jack walks out of the office. Bob winks at Jack and says quietly, "Hey Jack, remember I say you should get suspended again? So you can actually get out of the city and do something for Keith?"

"Yeah, but, I am not looking to be suspended again." Jack replies in low spirits.

"Really? What's wrong?"

Jack shrugs, "I don't know, I don't want to go out of the city to do anything."

Jack looks a little depressed. Bob thinks he might know why.

Bob gives Jack a pat, "How about, let's make things more interesting.  Instead of comforting a man who cannot accept the reality, I thought we could scare him." Bob has a mischievous smile.

Jack laughs lightly, "Well, in that case, I'll follow your lead!"

Bob and Jack then walk over to Ed, the man who is still talking really loud, demanding everyone in the police station to listen to him and help him.

"Hello, Ed," Bob says first, "I'm Bob, and I'm here to help you. So, you say your wife did not hang herself, but someone killed her?"

"That is what I have been telling you guys again and again! I don't want to have to repeat myself!" Ed waves his hands in the air, very emotional.

"Well, what makes you think your wife is murdered?"

"Because, I just don't think she has a reason to. She was going to be acting in a role in a movie soon. This is the opportunity she wanted."

Bob nods, "And, why was she in Greenwich Village? The police records show that she registered her home address outside of New York."

Ed replies, "Because she rented an apartment here just to prepare for her acting role. You know, she would write her notes. Smoothing the script over.  Read the lines out loud."

Jack makes a snorting sound. Jack thinks it's quite pretentious people need a special space just to do "preparation." Could she not prepare in her own bedroom? In the living room? In the bathroom? How did she afford renting an extra apartment in New York City just to "prepare?" 

Ed looks over at Jack, "Excuse me? Are you laughing at my wife who just died?"

Bob reaches a hand out to stop Ed from looking at Jack, and re-directing Ed's attention, "OK. I will go over to the apartment building to ask if there are any witnesses. OK, Ed?"

"Well, when will I know if you find any witnesses?"

"You will be notified. Everything is in the police records. Your phone number. Your address. Everything." Bob tries to sound polite.

"OK. Please do so quickly." Ed seems to still be upset.

"Just one more thing, Ed," Bob says with a very big smile.

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to detain you for a little bit, because any murder investigation starts with questioning the closest person to the victim. You are her husband, so you are considered to be the closest person to the victim. And, since you claimed your wife was murdered, then I would have to question you first."

Bob suddenly pushes Ed towards a small room, preparing to interrogate him.

"What? What the hell?"

"You told me it's a murder. This is a standard procedure. Do you not watch any police drama TV shows or movies? Of course I have to talk to you. If you didn't kill her, then you have nothing to hide." Bob has now successfully made Ed go into the interrogation room.

Jack finds it interesting that it doesn't look like Bob is using any force, but Bob has a lot of power over Ed.

"Sit down," Bob commands.

Ed sits.

"So, why do you kill your wife?" Bob begins.

"I did not kill my wife."

"Then, how did you know someone killed your wife?"

"I..., I just don't think she would kill herself. Like I said, she just got a role in a movie."

"OK. Who do you think has a reason to kill her?"

"Um... some.  There is this young actress whom my wife was going to help to get a movie role, but in the end, my wife was the one who got the role.  I bet that young actress felt betrayed.  Also, there was an immigrant downstairs at her Greenwich apartment.  My wife called noise complaints on that immigrant worker many times.  I bet that immigrant hated her." Ed speaks very certainly.

"How many people you think have a reason to kill her in total, including the two people you just mentioned. " Bob smiles.

"Um..., there was also a photographer that was upset that she didn't pay him enough money.  And then there was a tenant of hers...."

"Oh. She was not just an actress, but a landlord?"

"Well, just one room.  She got into an argument with the tenant.  So, let's see..." Ed starts to think, "I'm going to say... 5 people? I can think of 5 people."

"Wow. In my career, more than 2 people wanting to kill one person is already quite shocking. And you can think of 5? "

"Well, you asked me to think of all the possible people." Ed now looks embarrassed.

"So, you are telling me, she was not a well-liked person."

"I'm not trying to say that."

"You are not saying that, but I am saying that. And I say that, because I can. You want me to investigate. Frankly, if I investigate into this, the records will show how many people she pissed off or offended. Based on what you just told me, she was probably kind of an ass. I don't know why you want to make your wife an ass more than she already was. Not to mention, again, you probably could have killed her. You probably had the keys to her apartment. You probably were the only person knew she would be there. You are the primary suspect, do you not know that? I'm confused why you are trying to make yourself an ass and make your dead wife an ass?"

Ed is stunned.

Bob then smiles, "Ed, sometimes, you need to use your brain, think for others before demanding everything you want. OK?" Bob sounds like he is talking to a small child.

Ed's mouth is open and he nods.

"Ed, get the hell out of the police station. Do not show up again, unless we ask you to, OK?" Bob stands up and he opens the door.

Ed walks out, head hanging low. Ed leaves quietly.

Captain Rogers comes out of his office, surprised. "Wow, Bob. What did you say? Ed just left without protesting!"

"Oh nothing. I told him that he can be a suspect in murdering his wife. So maybe he should shut up for now. Wait for further notice."

"Oh, very good. Thanks for getting rid of him." Captain Rogers gives Bob a pat. "Bob, I'm going to talk to the Police Chief about it. Maybe, you shouldn't just work in the police records department. Maybe, you should become---"

"Thank you, sir.  I still want to work at the police records office." Bob quickly answers.

"Well, I'm sure we can figure something out." Captain Rogers says. He seems to want to promote Bob.

*** ***

After they walk out of the police station, Jack laughs, "Shit, Bob. I can't believe you said all that to Ed. I hope Ed is not one of those whining assholes who is going to complain about you online."

"You think I give a shit about that?"

"That's true. Do you really think the suicide is suspicious?"

Bob sighs, "I know it's going to sound bad, but, even if it's a suspicious death, I kind of don't care. She sounded like a terrible person. I just can't begin to care knowing she was not nice."

Surprisingly, Jack doesn't care, either. Even though, it is unethical for them to not care. 

"Hey Jack. You seem bored and tired. You look like you want to talk, but you don't actually try."

"Pretty accurate. That is kind of how I feel." Jack laughs.

"I just want you to know, I saw in the police records that Amelia died."

"What!?" Jack is shocked. So shocked, he stops walking and stands still.

"Yeah. And the hacker guy is gone."

"Oh, I'd better talk to Keith then." Jack now thinks he can't avoid Keith forever. But, Keith mentions he will contact Jack and gives him the next assignment.

"Jack, as much as I want to help you, which I still will, but, you need more allies to watch out for you."

"I know," Jack agrees, of course. But who can help him now.

"Have you talked to Nitte yet?"

== ~*~ === = ~*~==

[Re-cap] for all the mysteries so far & [Preview] for what's next:

1. Keith is in a race to recruit the best talents for his ambitious plan. He hints he is competing against Nitte, so he needs to recruit more and better people than her. (This means, Nitte is also recruiting).

2. In one scene, however, Keith and Nitte were killing a woman together. They seem to kill people together in the past-- to spread across a land. They cooperate in certain things. But in that scene, Nitte does something secretly, and she doesn't tell Keith that. What is she hiding?

3. What is the next task that Keith wants Jack to do?

4. Will Nitte come back to Jack and ask him to do anything else? Most importantly, will Nitte teach Jack and help Jack discover more super abilities? (But she seems to say that to any guy she meets!)

5. Is Detective Kasim Bashar going to find out Bob's secret? He has doubts about Bob, and he also has doubts about Jie Ai. Does Jie Ai also have something to hide?

6. Is Bob going to be promoted? Will Jack gets the detective position back?

7. Will there be any romantic interests show up?