The Beast of 1977 (Book 1)

Chapter 33

Captain Brickman's disposition was both low key and solemn as he stacked a series of papers all in a row while sitting quietly at his desk.

From left to right, reports of the incident from the night before, along with a prostitution ring that was busted up around three a.m. were all gathered into his stiff hands and neatly placed to the side.

Staying busy was never a challenge for the besieged man; it was a natural way of life. But that morning lay heavy and hard upon him, like carrying a three hundred pound man on top of his shoulders for hours.

Purposely, he had managed to keep away from Linus so far that morning, even though seven o' clock hadn't even arrived yet. There was so much he wanted to say to his colleague and friend, but it wasn't the right time, not with the investigation underway. Instead, he chose to keep to himself, secluded to the safe confines of his office.

Every so often he would answer his phone to take angry complaints from those who found wrong with the police department, or he would come out to ask for another cup of coffee from one of the female officers, but all in all, the unobtrusive man remained stationery and out of the way.

A sudden knock at the door startled the captain to where he lost complete track of the filing detail that he was right in the middle of.

Exasperated, he dropped the papers that were in his hands and looked up to see a silhouette stand on the other end of the stained glass door.

"Come in." He gently grimaced.

From behind the door appeared Fitzpatrick, who himself looked as if he hadn't slept a wink in two nights.

"Uh, sir, Mr. Mercer is here." Alan unenthusiastically stated.

Without saying a word, the captain groaned, gathered his papers and raised himself up and out of his creaky old wooden chair. The man sailed past Alan on his way out of his office and through the main work area where phones were ringing off the hook every other second and officers were handing him the proverbial stare downs.

"He's downstairs in interrogation." Alan said while following right in behind Brickman.

Without stopping, Brickman replied, "I'm fully aware of where the gentleman is, Detective."

carried on down the steps that led to the interrogation room. The captain was already an over boiling pot of unhinged nerves, having someone biting at his heels, at that time in the morning no less, only infused the man with

they reached the correct floor Alan hurriedly and boldly stepped in front of Brickman and remarked, "Sir,

with me, Fitz." The

pressed on. "You know just as well

do you want me to do?" Brickman shrugged. "Run upstairs,

"No...but if we could just get the

guy. I also know that just a few doors down I

slipping his hands inside his pants pockets and sighing, "You should see this Mercer fellow. He looks like he's about to go nuts at

nine last night. I'm high on Sanka, nicotine and cold medicine. Now, if I were you I wouldn't be concerned about my well-being as you are, because the question of why you left your piece in the trunk

Alan on his way past the interrogation room and directly to a tall, black officer who

captain stopped, looked up at the officer and simply said,

the officer looked down at the captain

just ten feet back to the interrogation room. With an overwhelming sense of trepidation, the captain approached the door and paused. Through the blurry glass he could see Mercer's large profile seated at

Despite the fact that the early morning was already chock full of unbridled controversy and pain stricken calamity, Brickman had a pre-planned statement stored away in the furthest recesses of

twisted the cold doorknob, beyond the door sat Mr. Mercer with his hands folded and his eyes closed to the world.

protesters outside the window behind Mercer yell and chant for justice and an end to police brutality. They had been out there for

Brickman modestly broadcasted before sitting himself down on the

he were either far away in another world or just studying

as though he were trying to cough. "At this very moment, the department is conducting an extensive investigation into Detective Bruin's actions from last night. All we know for now is that Detective

The more Brickman spoke the more he had hoped that Mercer would at least make eye to eye contact

now, Detective Bruin is indefinitely suspended, without pay. Now, Mr. Mercer, we need to

slowly uttered, "Captain, can you imagine what it's like to look down upon your son and

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