At the Office of the special investigator
Nautilus pulled open the glass door and the cool air of the air conditioning caressed his face. He had a smile across his plump face. Born Nautilus A. Augustus, where he grew up on the mean streets of the capital, there was no fraud or scam he could not pull off. He was bright and articulate and taught himself many things including the uncanny ability to have women spread their legs for free from the early age of 9 years old. Augustus was bright and highly educated and bilingual, resulting in him being recruited into the teams. He was a graduate of the Ivy League college with accreditation to match the 26 letters in the alphabet. The father of many and romancer to married and unmarried women in and outside of the force, he loved to drink and always enjoyed a good joke. However, he could kill in a moment's notice without the blink of an eye and then write to justify his actions.
Nautilus moved slower these days, since he had claimed to have settled down with his wife and kids and stopped lifting weights of the legs of women.
hh, he said slowly. "I should be retired and chilling out at the little cottage in Negril with my wife beside me. Instead, I am back here again, chasing leads and trying to keep up with Marcus. I don't know where he finds the energy." Nautilus said as he walked towards the desk that he was assigned.
"Hey Delano, I hear the boss wants to bring in Antonio Sharpe and Jaden McNamarra for questioning."
Delano popped his grey head above the cubicle.
"What? I thought they were all friends and business partners these days. Why would those men want to have Richard killed?" Martin Delano asked.
"You're the skeptic Delano and the conspiracy theorist, what if any one of them still had secret fantasies about having Stephanie for their own or maybe even both."
Delano hissed his teeth loudly.
"Hey we are not young anymore Nautilus and who wants an old woman that has been embracing midlife for a couple of years now. Lisa isn't young and sexy anymore, like she used to be." Delano said aloud.
"Shhh, Yow, the walls have ears Delano" Nautilus replied.
"Relax, we are the only ones in the office my brother, and lets face it, we have always been able to speak our minds with each other. Even if Marcus and Stephanie were here I would have said it to their faces." Delano rebutted.
"This won't be easy, Delano but we have to get the job done. But I am sure you Martin Delano are the shy dangerous type that was educated at the Ivy League school, but decided to throw away your career in medicine to the police force. I know that you are not a big risk taker but relie on your own steady hands and quick wit to navigate your way through life. If needs be Delano, I know we can rely on your smooth and accurate hands as the sharpshooter in the crew," Nautilus replied.
Delano chuckled. "That was way back in the day dude, I am not so sure if these old hands are still as accurate as they once were and I hope and pray that it does not come down to a shooting match."
"Relax," Stephanie replied. "Antonio and Jaden are business partners these days. Based on intelligence, Antonio has put his former life behind him. There are no adverse traces to gang activities and, I am damn sure, none of your wives don't look like me in a swim suit.
Nautilus was surprised by Stephanie's outburst.
"Shit, dude you told me we were the only ones here." Nautilus berated Delano.
Stephanie laughed. "He forgot that there is a back door. Marcus just wants to rule out both men from the equation." Stephanie replied.
"Still conceited I see Stephanie, but what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be on the list of persons of interest. Being here might compromise the investigations." Nautilus said as he opened his laptop on his desk.
"Yes, I am a figment of your imaginations, but where else or what else would you guys want me to go or to be. Richard was my life and someone stole him from me. What should I tell his child." Stephanie's words became mixed with tears.
Delano got up and walked around his cubicle to hug her, something about the grey heard man gave her comfort.
Stephanie rested her head on his shoulders, since the two were about the same height. Nautilus looked on with a tinge of envy.
"Get a room you two." Nautilus said softly.
"Shut up Nautilus, it's not that kind of embrace, don't you see the girl is having an emotional moment. Have you ever seen her cry in all the years you have known her?" Delano asked.
Stephanie drew up her nose and Nautilus watched her dry her eyes.
"I am human guys and even if you haven't noticed, I am a woman, not because I out rank or can kick both of your tired asses." Nautilus peered over the top of his glasses and the cubicle and whispered. "Oh yes, you're a woman."
"Shut up Augustus, I thought you stopped lusting and settled down with wifey," Stephanie replied, while fixing the tight red skirt that seemed to have ridden up revealing more thighs than she wanted to show.
"Heh, heh, heh! You never stop looking at God's masterpieces," Nautilus replied.
"Anyway, pick up Antonio and Jaden early so that I can interrogate them." Stephanie said in an authoritative tone.
"Hell no." Came from behind her. Marcus was sipping a cup from Starbucks.
"I will not have you compromise my investigation Mrs. Hellbent. We are only going through the motions by talking to the usual suspects and since we have you here already, do you want an attorney present or are you willing to waive your rights to be questioned without an attorney. You should at least have a union representative here." Marcus said confidently.
Stephanie turned sharply on her feet to confront him.
"Marcus, how dare you get coffee and not bring one for me?" Stephanie asked.
Nautilus and Delano laughed in unison.
"Really Boss? Delano asked.
"Do you think Stephanie would have gunned down her beloved husband in cold blood or conspired with someone to do it? You must be losing your marbles. From what I heard you have been up to in the past few weeks, it is likely that it's motivated by revenge." Nautilus said.
"Crap, why and how everyone is trying to push the same theory that I am the cause of Richard's death. I didn't know that what happened recently is common knowledge. I acted within the law and defended my life. A known criminal met his maker as his judge." Marcus replied sternly.
"Where is she Marcus?" Stephanie asked.
"Who?" Marcus replied.
"Don't play fool Marcus, we all know why and who caused you to rush off the island." Stephanie reiterated.
"She has nothing to do with this investigation, Stephanie. I believe the root of the crime sprouted into a tree right here in Jamaica. Richard Hellbent Snr. and his father have made several powerful enemies in the past and what better way to hurt him but to kill his prized son. Delano, Nautilus, do your jobs. Get both Antonio Sharpe and Jaden McNamara here for questioning with or without their attorneys. I don't care if you must drag them down here. Remember the eyes of this country are on us and we can't be seen to be showing any bias." Marcus replied while walking to his office then slamming his door.
"Someone has a stick up his ass." Stephanie chuckled.
"Yep, I guess Molly didn't come home last night." Delano whispered.