Chapter Seven
The Police Vs Clara
"Let me be clear," the DPO continued, his tone sharper now. "If you lie, I'll know. If you stay silent, you'll all be in a cell by nightfall. I overheard some of your squabbling earlier, so don't waste my time."
The driver cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Sir, we arrested a man and a woman late last night. They were behaving suspiciously on the street. We... forced them into the patrol car and placed them in the back seat with two officers to keep watch."
He gestured toward the two sheepish officers standing to his left. "I was driving, sir. When we arrived here, I found these two asleep—and the suspects were gone."
The DPO's face darkened. His eyes locked onto the two officers. "You were asleep?" he asked, his voice dangerously low.
"Sir…" one of them began hesitantly, but the DPO cut him off.
"Sleeping while on duty?" His voice rose sharply, every word cutting through the room like a whip. "Do you realize how serious this is? Do you understand the consequences of your negligence? Those suspects could've been dangerous criminals!"
The officers flinched, their heads bowed in shame.
"You have three days," the DPO declared, his tone cold and final. "Three days to find those suspects and bring them back. If you fail…" He let the threat hang in the air like a blade poised to fall. "You'll wish you hadn't."
"Yes, sir!" the men chorused, snapping salutes before hastily leaving the office.
The DPO leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers as he stared at the door long after they'd gone. His mind churned with questions. How could two suspects vanish so easily under their watch?
Clara and James appeared on the main road, where passengers usually waited for buses to their various destinations. After a few minutes, they spotted a bus approaching from the left side of the road and flagged it down.
The driver pulled over and asked where they were headed. James gave him their destination, and the driver agreed to take them. They climbed into the bus, which sped off down the road.
Soon, they arrived in front of James's house. As they stepped inside, Clara noticed that the sitting room was pitch dark. James turned on his phone's flashlight to light up the space.
"Welcome to my home," he said, smiling at Clara.
"Thank you, James! Wow, this is a lovely place," Clara replied, admiring the room.
"Glad you like it. Give me a moment to turn on the lights."
He disappeared into a nearby room, and shortly afterward, the house was brightly lit. Clara looked around, impressed by the setup. A large plasma TV stood opposite the entrance, flanked by well-arranged chairs and a coffee table. The walls were painted a pristine white, giving the room a modern, clean look, and the dining area was equally stylish.
After she'd taken in the decor, James smiled and said, "Come, let me show you where you'll be sleeping."
He led her to a guest room, switched on the fan, and waited as Clara walked in and sat on the bed, appreciating the room's comfort.
"Sleep well, and good night," he said, giving her a friendly nod before heading out.
The next morning, Clara woke up and went to the sitting room, where she found James watching a movie.
"Good morning, James," she greeted him.
"Good morning, Clara. How was your night?"
"Great, thanks. And yours?"
"Good too. I'm boiling water in the kitchen for tea. You'll find milk and bread there for breakfast," he said with a warm smile.
"Alright, thank you," she replied.
A few minutes later, James stood up and suggested, "Let's head to the kitchen together."
In the kitchen, Clara prepared two cups of tea on a tray and brought them to the dining table, where they sat down together. James divided the bread between them, and they began to eat.
As they ate, James broke the silence. "I called the mechanic to repair my car yesterday, and he's finished with it. I'll go pick it up and drive it to the office today."
"Alright. I think I'll stay here for a while, just to avoid any trouble. If the police see me around, they might try to catch me."
"Of course, you're welcome to stay here as long as you need. Make yourself at home."
"Thank you, James."
"Once again, welcome," he said, laughing, and Clara joined in, enjoying the moment.
After they finished breakfast, James left the house to pick up his car. He caught a bus to the street where it was parked. As he walked toward the mechanic's shop, he noticed one of the policemen from before. The officer recognized him immediately, watching him with a sharp gaze
"Hey, stop!" the officer shouted.
Without hesitation, James broke into a sprint, determined not to be caught. Two officers quickly gave chase. He spotted his car up ahead, jumped in, and sped off, his heart pounding as he checked the rearview mirror. The police, now in their own car, accelerated after him.
Meanwhile, Clara was sitting at home when a sudden vision appeared on the television. In a flash, she could see what was happening to James—his frantic attempt to escape the police. She focused on the vision, picturing herself beside him, and within moments, she appeared in the passenger seat of James's car.
James did a double-take, startled. "Clara! How did you know I was in trouble?"
"Don't worry about that," she replied, her voice calm. "Let's just focus on getting out of here safely."
"Alright," he agreed, pressing down on the gas pedal.
The officers in the pursuing car noticed Clara's sudden appearance and sped up, determined not to let them escape.
Clara glanced back at the police car, realizing it was closing the distance. They were gaining fast, and James was already pushing his car to its limits.
"James, they're catching up! Try to go faster."
"This speed is already risky," he replied, gripping the wheel tightly. "But I'll do my best."
As the police drew closer, Clara noticed another patrol car joining the chase. They were outnumbered now. An idea sparked in her mind. She stretched her hand toward the nearest police car, concentrating. Instantly, the car's speed dropped, slowing until it was barely moving.
One of the officers in the car looked around, baffled. "What's going on with this car?"
"I don't know!" the driver replied, frantically pressing the accelerator, but the car wouldn't go faster.
Seeing what was happening, one of the officers in the second police car pulled out his gun and aimed at James's tires.
"The DPO didn't give us orders to shoot!" the driver objected.
"I'll pay for the bullets if I have to—I just want to stop them!"