“That’s fine. I’m Conway Drucker, that’s Doug Drayfort. Glad to make both of your acquaintances. Now, let’s get down to business, shall we?” He sounded assured and ready, which had an added bonus of bringing Doug’s confidence right back on par with his. “Do you know a Mrs. Dee Dullet?” Mr. Galloway a raised hand to halt any further lines of questioning directed at his client but Rik spoke regardless. “Maybe I do and maybe I don’t. What’s it to you anyways and what am I even here for?” His arrogance seemed to increase by the second. A level of frustration felt by Mr. Galloway was also plain to see. An unexpected advantage for the pair due to Rik’s cavalier attitude toward his only aid in the room.

“You carry on like that and you’ll be needing to cancel any plans you got for the next few days.” he replied. “Coz you ain’t leaving this place until we get the answers we need. It ain’t Hollywood Boulevard within these four walls… Rik.” The sarcastic emphasis Drucker placed on pronouncing his name seemed to hit an instant nerve in just the right spot.

“Oh really?” he answered back, in defiance. Mr. Galloway decided to interject before the situation got out of hand. “My client feels intimidated by your tone of voice and wishes to remain silent until further notice. You may address me for the remainder of this interview.”

Rik turned toward his lawyer with an air of disbelief. “Excuse me, but I pay you to defend me. Not fight my corner in these immature playschool police tactics. So please, I can speak for myself right now. Thank you.” Mr. Galloway flushed a deep shade of purple as Rik directed his attentions back to Drucker.

“As I was saying, you think you got shit on me? Well, give it your best shot. I make in an hour what you do in a whole year. I know you’re recording this but I'm also gonna get my personal transcript of today's fiasco too. Step outta line with me or say the wrong thing and it’s your ass. You won’t get another warning from me. I know exactly how things work here and I know my rights. Comprende, Detective?” The deep sneer in his voice felt like some deep rooted evil nesting inside his circuitry but all he was doing was playing right into Drucker’s hands. Doug stood watching by the far wall as he leaned over the table to look Rik straight in the eye.

“You filthy, degenerate tinman. You lowlife, washing machine on stilts. You stuck-up, second-rate citizen, rust bucket of a machine. You want me to go on or did you manage to take all that down?” Rik Haime’s dark eyes bulged with rage. His fists clenched hard under the table as he bore his pearly white teeth at Drucker, yet not a single sound left his mouth. Mr. Galloway echoed Rik’s sentiments just by the sheer look on his face. Absolute horror.

“You finally know where you are now, you piece of metal shit?” Drucker continued. “You’re right about one thing, this ain’t no school playground. This is my house now. My rules and my… murder… investigation. You want political correctness, go attend one of the demonstration’s outside “Freewill”. In here, you’re with the “Big Daddy”, so either start talking or bend over so I can spank that ass. Are we clear?” Doug was so impressed in that retort, he wondered if it should be him running for the Oscars this year.

A wide-eyed, shocked Rik recoiled back into his chair. Two pools of jet black stared straight at Drucker. He knew he had him by the balls. “Now, let’s start over, shall we? And this time round, I’ll get right to the point.” he said, straightening himself back up from the table.

“Who is Mrs. Dullet and how did you come to receive one hundred thousand dollars from her. Just a day before she took off on her city-wide rampage?”

A different persona replied back to Drucker, though still very much in the guise of Rik Haime. It spoke in a nervous and timid manner. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I got so many people who transact with me on a daily basis. There is no…”

“Oh, stop playing coy with me and answer the damn question!” he yelled, slamming a fist hard upon the table. “You’re in a whole world of trouble, you know that? Mr. Big-time movie star! Your precious career as well as your livelihood are all about to go down the same plughole if you don’t level with me! Now, what’s your connection with Dee Dullet! Don’t make me ask a third time!”

For a few seconds, the room fell into a pin-drop silence. Doug, who was at the ready if Drucker required his input, may as well have been sitting in a comfy sofa eating popcorn and drinking pop. It was evident to him that Rik was feeling the strain under heavy pressure and it was only a matter of turning the screw until the lock was forced open. A little more time and patience necessary.

“This is most inappropriate, Mr. Drucker.” the lawyer piped up after he waited for what he saw as a reasonable amount of time. “Cornering my client under the influence of uncalled-for duress is a crime and you’ll be well informed to know that we fully intend to take legal action against yourself as well as this precinct.”

Drucker still kept his eyes locked onto Rik who seemed to have curled up into an invisible protective shell. “Rik, listen to me.” he said, reverting back to calm. “A child of three has been abducted, an innocent gas station attendant murdered by her hand. They’re on the run right now and God knows who else is going to be next. A family? A pregnant woman? A synthetic even? Please, we’ll help you if you help us. You have my word of honour, Rik.” He listened in as Mr. Galloway studied him eagle-eyed, ready to pounce before Rik dug himself an even deeper hole. His lip wavered as he began to speak. “I… I didn’t’ mean to…”

The door burst open as everybody in the room jumped in unison. Four high ranking S.P.A. officials marched in followed closely by a bulky, stout man dressed in smart military attire. Six distinct medals were pinned on his left breast pocket. The S.P.A.’s surrounded Rik as the man formally approached Drucker.

“What in the hell?” Drucker cried out. “We’re in the middle of an interrogation, dammit! Who the hell are you?”

He replied back in a strong, harsh tone. Clearly a man of experience and authoritative backing.

“Go see your captain immediately. As of now, you’re off this case. We’ll take it from here.”

Doug looked on stunned as Drucker attempted to stay grounded in the mode of reason. Rage was now a distant second place. He looked at this man, seething with anger and confusion. “Under whose orders? Who the hell you are?” he asked again under gritted teeth.

“Colonel Pactor. Colonel Frank Pactor.”

Hope you enjoyed this post, please look out for more on the way... (author: @ezzy)