Marine Snow's

Ep. 04: Call Detective Harold

I remember how curious Natalie Carter was about the girl Dominic Miller loved. The woman even tried to bribe me with a bottle of my favorite orange juice. He said that he would do anything to get accurate information about my best friend's dream girl. She said almost all single female employees at the Tennessee Supreme Court hoped to have Dominic and that's why she bribed me.

Dominic Miller's face is at the highest level. Athletic because he served as a forward of the basketball team since moving to Memphis during Junior High School. They have many friends and love to hang out with different communities. His analytical skills are above average. That's why he's so good at math and physics. The biggest point lies in the assets of the Miller family. She is ranked third on the Tennessee family list.

All those advantages must have made the women glare. And that's the destiny of ─ that Dominic Miller is supposed to live. Remember that? He ran away from home 2 years ago.

Because of my existence, the radiance dimmed slightly. Loss of family and property ─ now no longer, then his image as a sane man. I mean, everyone in the Tennessee Supreme Court knows that Dominic is too adoring, an unfriendly JPU, and almost never a woman standing next to him. They started thinking he was gay.

And with the release of a little secret Dominic ─because of my anger, all the women will come back after him. I know, this sounds fun. No more ‘gay’ words to be linked to me. But as someone who always works to uncover secrets and expose them, I know enough privileges. In this case, Dominic as a client who tells his secret ─the girl he loves - to me who has promised not to tell him.

I violated Dominic's privilege. Although only a little. At that time I couldn't control my emotions, so Natalie got nothing from me except the truth that Dominic did have someone she loved in Memphis. He immediately stepped aside and, in a hurry, closed the door of our study.

“Yes God,” my grunts are upset. The repetition of Natalie's whining scene just before lunchtime reminded me of Dominic's description of his girl and Memphis.

Dominic said, That special someone is the prettiest girl in Memphis and is convinced that my opinion will be the same as hers. A few days ago he told me, the girl has a new habit. Jogging along Poplar Avenue to see the crowded streets. I ignored the continuation of the story and immediately concluded that the girl was not much different.

Bizarrely.

Soon I shut down my thoughts about Dominic and his heart. Then, my soul returned to a cafe not far from the Tennessee Supreme Court. I came to this place for lunch and while waiting, Hamlet opened in my hands. I should have spent ‘time waiting for Orders’ to read Hamlet, not to think of them.

“This is your order, Sir,” said a waiter while putting a tenderloin steak with black pepper sauce on my desk. She's Marie Campbell ─I saw her signboard a few weeks ago. Marie did not forget her manners as a servant, smiling. And as always, a smile is sweet. One good reason for me to come back to this cafe.

“Sorry, I'm late, Aiden.”

Harold Burton took a position right in front of me. He is the detective who handled the case of Mr. William's sudden death in a taxi after meeting with Danielle Lincoln. We worked together during the investigation because Helga said that I should get the case. I followed, and here we are. Trying to solve the continuation of the case involving arsenic.

“Not a problem,” I replied briefly.

“One latte for me and please use low-calorie sugar,” Detective Harold told Marie who was greeted with one nod and ─for the umpteenth time - a sweet smile.

“I'll get ready soon, Mr.”

Detective Harold looked at me who started chopping up the steak after Marie's departure. “You don't mind if your lunch is a little interrupted?”

Detective Harold seemed to agree with my opinion. After all, the man six years older than me asked for my time at lunchtime because at 2 he had to go to Memphis. One of his men needs him and Detective Harold doesn't want to miss out on a golden opportunity to participate head on.

“We found several buildings suspected of being the center of that organization. Mostly, the building is disguised as an office of a business. My men have done further investigation. They are officially standing. There was a certificate and the Memphis government legalized it. Then about their activities. Nothing suspicious unless there are a few small rats operating around the building.”

Latte orders Detective Harold to arrive on time. Marie repeated her ethics to the married man sitting in front of me. Detective Harold smiled, even continuing to do so until Marie disappeared behind the counter. I stared at the Detective for a while and raised an eyebrow after coming to a conclusion.

Harold Burton will come to this cafe more often.

“You can continue, Detective.” I started making noises to get Detective Harold back into the real world. Memphis' criminal organization, my lunch hour running out, and Latte's still blowing smoke.

He cleared his throat a few times, then tasted his Latte. When it was over, Detective Harold covered his embarrassment with a friendly smile. “Sorry, Aiden. Distractions like this you can meet regardless of status and condition,” he said.

I understand what kind of status he is talking about. Wedding bond. Both of my shoulders were lifted, then tried to convince Detective Harold that I didn't care through my gaze. And he seems to understand. Even her reaction was so quick that she realized that I did not have enough time to hear her explanation.

“The short report you gave before lunch hour is very useful for us.” Detective Harold began to raise his level of seriousness. She added. “We can doodle some buildings and leave two to be investigated further. You're so brilliant, Aiden! Since that trial, I've been trying to get the account owner's data to the bank and nothing. This morning, I just sent you a fax and you've got the name of the owner!”

It's thanks to Natalie Carter. If the woman is not engaged to the head of HRD of the bank where Danielle Lincoln keeps the money, then this lunch meeting will not happen. The man, Barry Powell, was able to give anything to his fiancee. I'd bet if Natalie asked for a copy of the entire account records of her customers, Barry Powell would approve. He was blinded by love.

“Actually I came here too to offer you something.” Detective Harold's words gave me a little uncomfortable feeling. When the man reopened his voice, I fell silent. “I know if the Prosecutor is not recommended to go down to the field. But what if you come with me to Memphis? I heard from Dom, you're from there. Don't you want to visit your father, mother, or sister? You could stop by, even stay at your house. Hows it? Are you men─”

“I would be very happy if you would buy me this lunch, Detective Harold,” I said as I stood up from the chair.

I'm strengthening my breath. Allowing the tightness in my chest to flow loosely through each of these gusts. That sounds easy. But for me, controlling the emotions that always come along with the flash of the past, is really painful. It felt like he was holding a knife that had two pointed ends. If I take off, the tip will befall someone else ─ like the incident this morning. Instead, by holding the knife, I myself will be injured.

Ironical.

“Sorry, Detective Harold. I won't go to that hell forever.”

The thing I remember after that was Detective Harold's pitying face, the cafe door I had shut tight, and the quiet streets of the Seventh Event. Lunch time has gone five minutes. Suddenly, I felt very disappointed that my lunch record was broken.