My Brother's Killer

  Chapter 8

  Barry sits at his desk pretending to read an email while reclining in his chair. The spring that allows the chair to tilt back and return to a normal sitting position when no one is in it also allows Barry to recline then bounce back up until his big belly hits the edge of his desk where he can push out using just his belly causing him to bounce back into a reclined position again. He bounces back and forth enjoying his alone time until he hears a single knock on his door before Detective Earl Mullins walks in without waiting for a response.

  Earl is in his fifties and cranky. He has skinny arms and legs contrasting with a belly disproportionately round for his body - unlike Barry who’s fat all over. A profile view makes him look pregnant. Taking a seat opposite his boss, he has his serious face on.

  Earl annoys Barry for a good reason. The detective is incredibly good at his job and he knows it. Earl has the frustrating ability to quote relevant laws and past cases which gives the two of them reason to butt heads since Barry can remember pretty much anything too. There are not uncommon showdowns between the two which build up as they try to outdo each other on who knows what about what.

  Barry stops bouncing in his chair and responds to Earl’s presence with sarcasm, “No, please Earl, come on in. Take a seat. Thank you for responding to my meeting request.”

  Earl frowns, “You organised a meeting?”

  Barry is more annoyed that Earl didn’t understand his sarcasm than that he barged into his office and took a seat without an invitation. “What do you want?”

  “You gave my case to Alan and the new guy.”

  “If that was a question then, yes, I gave it to Alan but you already knew that so why would you ask? If it was a statement then, I don’t need you to remind me of those higher level ‘executive decisions’ I make every day that you have to live with but don’t get a say in. And ‘the new guy’, has been here almost a year. His name is Max but you know that as well.”

  “You gave my investigation…”

  ‘Yours and Carl’s,” clarifies Barry.

  “You gave it to another team?”

  “True story,” replies Barry with a hint of mockery. “I gave it to two detectives in my team, one of whom has as much experience as you while the other is a detective regardless of how new he is. Plus he just put a gangland killer away for life.”

  Earl is disgusted, “Are you kidding me?!”

  Barry remains calm even though he wants to yell. “No Earl, I’m not. I have made a decision based on what’s best for the investigation. Your case became part of what appears to be a serial killing and all existing cases, along with any new ones, will come under the one team. That’s how it works. Most of all, I don’t run my decisions past you for approval. You tow the line, my friend.”

  “Why didn’t you give the case to Carl and me? We were already on it.”

  “I have two bodies with Max’s name carved into them and I have an intense desire to know why.”

  “Mine didn’t!”

  “And yet, it appears to be related. So it all goes together.” Barry puts on a Dr Phil tone. “Now let me take this moment to validate how you feel and let you know that your feelings are never wrong, no matter what anyone says, except now, you’re wrong. Alan and Max are in charge, get out.”

  Earl knows when he’s not going to win. Sometimes he’ll keep fighting, not this time. He leaves without further word. Barry waits for him to close the door then starts back to bouncing off the desk with his stomach again.