The Next Day at NYPD Company
Dr. Ken's bodyguard Benjamin sat across Noah in the interrogation room, his face impassive as he stared at the detective. However, Noah returned the stare, his expression a mix of anger and disgust. The silence in the room was heavy and oppressive, and it felt like a battle of wills between the two men.
The bodyguard's face was a mess. It was bruised and swollen, with several teeth missing. There were some blood stains on his shirt and he was having difficulty breathing. It was clear that he had been through a lot since his arrest, with obvious signs of torture and abuse.
The bodyguard's stomach ached with every breath he took. It was a reminder of the vicious assault he had endured from Noah. His ribs were bruised and broken, and it felt like his insides were on fire.
Noah looked at the bodyguard with so much rage. He was taking revenge for all the harm the bodyguard had caused, and now he was paying the price. Besides, everything that has happened so far was the bodyguard's fault. From the death of Abigail Harper, Anne's kidnapping and Carl being in a coma.
Suddenly, Noah grabbed the collar of the bodyguard's shirt so they could make eye contact and then he threw another punch to the bodyguard's face. The bodyguard's head jerked back as Noah's fist connected with his face, a sharp pain radiating from his jaw.
"Tell me where your boss is" He yelled at the bodyguard. He has been asking this question repeatedly but despite the pain the bodyguard was feeling, he refused to speak. He was determined to keep his silence. He'd rather receive all the beatings from Noah than say a word.
The bodyguard gasped for breath, his chest heaving with each inhale. The blows he had taken had left him weak and dizzy, and his vision was starting to blur. If he wasn't a well-built man, he would've collapsed already.
"you don't wanna talk huh?" Noah growled and gave him another punch in the jaw.
Suddenly, the door swung open with a bang, and Sasha walked in. Her face set in a hard expression as usual. She was dressed in her police uniform, and she looked every inch the authoritative figure.
"That's enough, detective," she said, her voice firm and commanding. "You're out of line"
Noah's hands were still clenched tightly around the bodyguard's collar. He was trying as much as possible to calm down but his eyes were burning with fury as he was staring at the lifeless bodyguard in front of him. For some reason, he didn't want to let go of the bodyguard. He wanted to break his face for hurting the people he cared about.
"I said enough!" Sasha shouted. She rushed forward and yanked Noah away from the bodyguard, who was left coughing and gasping for breath.
Sasha took Noah out of the interrogation room and shut the door closed. "Can't you see that he's not going to talk?" She said "Torturing him like that is only going to make things worse, and you're not going to get anything out of it," She said.
"maybe it's because I haven't broken his bones yet," Noah said. He couldn't seem to let go of the anger and resentment that he was feeling.
Sasha let out a frustrated sigh "Do you realize that this is police brutality? What if he dies in this state and we end up not knowing anything about Dr. Ken?"
"so what are we going to do huh? It's his fault Carl is in a coma right now fighting for his life," Noah said agitatedly.
"I'm aware but you have to use your head to think, not your fists. You're not a vigilante, you're a cop. You have to act within the bounds of the law, even when it's hard,"
Noah sighed looking up. He knew she was right, but he couldn't bring himself to admit it. Instead, he just stood there, his body tense. He was getting emotional that was why he felt like beating the bodyguard to a pulp. Carl wouldn't be in this mess if not for Dr. Ken and his bodyguard.
The New York police had searched everywhere for Dr. Ken but they couldn't find him. It was as if he had simply vanished, leaving no trace behind. The only thing they could find in Dr. Ken's mansion was his ID card which was hidden in his secret operating room underground. The cops now know his real name, Seth Kennedy, and his pictures but finding him was like finding a ghost.
Noah felt like he was being driven mad by the lack of answers. He knew that Dr. Ken was out there somewhere, and he was determined to find him. He wouldn't rest until he found that wicked surgeon.
…
Inside the staffroom, Dexter was seen sitting in his swivel chair, his mind filled with thoughts. It was still early in the morning and most of his coworkers had not come to work yet including his friend Audrey.
Dexter was busy thinking about his sister Anne, who was undoubtedly struggling with worry and fear for Carl. He thought about Carl's grandmother, who must be devastated by the news of her grandson's injury. And he thought about Carl himself, lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life. But what bothered him the most was Dr. Ken's or rather Seth Kennedy's whereabouts.
Why hasn't the police found him yet? It's not like he disappeared into thin air.
Dexter felt like he was losing his grip on reality. He needed answers, and he didn't know where to turn.
Dexter was puzzled by the bodyguard's continued loyalty to Dr. Ken, despite abandoning him when he needed him the most. If the bodyguard had simply confessed everything, he might have received a lighter sentence. So what was keeping him loyal?
Perhaps Dr. Ken had something on him that kept the bodyguard loyal, It was the only explanation that made sense. But what could Dr. Ken possibly have on the bodyguard? Dexter was determined to find out.
Beep beep!
Dexter's phone vibrated on his desk snapping him from his thoughts. He picked it up and saw a text message from Treasure which reads reading 'Good morning, Dex'
A faint smile escaped his lips, and for a moment, he felt a sense of relief. It had been a while since he'd smiled like that. He had been so preoccupied with everything that had been going on lately, that he hadn't even had time to chat with Treasure. But seeing her message brought a brief moment of comfort.
'Good morning love' Dexter typed, his fingers hovering over the send button. But then he hesitated. Was it too forward to call her "love"? What if it made things awkward between them? After all, they weren't even dating. Besides, he hasn't even told her he liked her yet.
After much hesitation, he erased the message and typed 'Good morning Treasure,' He wanted to make things simple. He was just about to hit send when another message popped up on his phone from Treasure.
'why are you taking so long to reply?'
'is everything okay with you?'
Dexter's heart pounded as he read the messages one after the other. He wasn't taking long to reply, he was only looking for a good response. Treasure was worried about him, and he felt a surge of affection for her. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. He wasn't even face-to-face with her yet he felt anxious for not replying to her message on time.
Before Dexter could type something, he saw another message from Treasure 'I'm outside NYPD. Just wondering if I could see you before I go to school'
Dexter delivered a short gasp "She's outside?" He exclaimed. He wasn't expecting her to be anywhere near his workplace. The thought of seeing Treasure sent a jolt of adrenaline through his body.
He immediately got up from his swivel chair with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. He made his way out of the office and found himself in the hallway. Dexter gazed into the reflection of his face on the blank screen of his phone as he adjusted his hair. He needed to appear cool and charming in front of Treasure despite the fact that his life was falling apart.
His friend Carl is in a coma while Anne his sister is going through depression right now. He knew he had to be strong for them, even if it meant putting on a brave face.
Dexter took the elevator to the bottom floor and as the elevator doors opened, he strode outside the company. He anxiously looked around as if he was searching for someone and then a female voice rang out, high-pitched and clear.
"Dexter! Dexter over here,"
Dexter turned in the direction of the voice and saw Treasure standing a few feet away from him. She looked so beautiful like the morning sun. Her eyes were sparkling as she smiled at him and Dexter felt his heart skip a beat as he took in her beauty.
As he started walking towards her, he couldn't help but notice how her smile seemed to light up the entire space around them.
Treasure was wearing a dark blue dress that flared out at the bottom, and she was hanging a small handbag where she kept her reading books. She looked lovely, and he couldn't help but admire her appearance. As he reached her, he pulled her into a warm embrace.
Treasure wrapped her arms around Dexter's neck and they stood like that for a moment, simply absorbing the peace that came with being together again. It felt like they had been through so much in the time they had been apart, and now, finally, they could just be themselves.
Treasure pulled back slightly and looked Dexter in the eyes. "it's been a minute, isn't it," she said, her voice soft and gentle.
"it sure is," Dexter responded. "I've missed you," he said.
"You missed me? Pfft," Treasure scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Yeah, right"
Dexter raised an eyebrow. He was stunned by her reaction. "Of course I missed you," he protested. "Why don't you believe me?"
"hmm… I sent you a text and you didn't bother texting me back. The truth is, I wasn't even expecting you to come down here. I was so surprised you came" She said.
Dexter felt a pang of guilt "I'm so sorry about that," He said sincerely. "I was going to reply to your text, I promise. You're just a really fast texter,"
Treasure laughed softly "I understand you must have been busy with work," she said in an understanding tone.
Dexter nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. "I'm really glad you stopped by," he said, looking into her eyes with a warm, genuine smile. "It's good to see you"
Despite Dexter's attempts to put on a brave face, Treasure could tell that something was bothering him. He was trying his best to act normal, but the sadness in his eyes was hard to hide. She knew he was struggling with something he wasn't telling her.