Alia picked up a prescription from a local pharmacy. The whole process had taken none of her medical training as Super biology defied the logic of human biology. Even her fellow Super medical students had offered little advice other than the pharmacists can sort him out. The common cold seemed to be the least impressive ailment to cure.
The pharmacist had asked her to describe Stu’s abilities before handing her a packet and telling her after he used it he would be fine. “Stupid cop’s overworking himself again.”
“I mean everybody get’s sick.”
“You’re human honey. We don’t get sick. Our biology is more stout.”
As she entered the apartment the stench hit her first. It was like she’d swallowed chlorinated pool water. Stu was bundled up in blankets and surrounded by bloody tissues. He had hooked up an old war movie and was either sniffing or sobbing. The red of his eyes made it hard to tell.
“Hey I got you this from the pharmacy.” Alia handed him the brown package.
“Gretta! She always makes me hydrated.” He burst open the bag and took out what looked like cotton balls.
As much as she wanted to see Stu be cured, she was also tired. She opened her door and passed out. The last sound she registered was Stu snorting something--the cotton balls?
INTERROGATION ROOM 2
For a crime syndicate henchmen, Robert Feor looked remarkably non-threatening.
Alia watched from the window and remarked. “He looks like a mailman.”
Obi shook his head. “Your mailmen don’t usually kill people for a hobby.”
Inside the investigation room, Stu flipped his notepad of questions open. He clicked his pen to get Mr. Feor’s attention. His voice was strangely monotone. “Mr. Feor when did you the last time have contact with your daughter.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean I don’t remember.”
“Why didn’t you visit your daughter when she was first hospitalized? Yet, even though you didn’t you wired a large sum of money to her.”
“I don’t have to talk to her to be her blood. I’m her father, even if she doesn’t want to acknowledge that. I’m sure you’re dad is proud of you, serving your community.”
Stu shifted in his seat. He opened a file that was laying on the desk. “Your granddaughter Dura died. Did you hurt her like you used to hurt Emmie? Why don’t you hit me?” Stu brought his face close to Mr. Feor who shuttered. He grabbed his face to force Mr. Feor to look into his eyes. “You’re a man who harmed your own kid. You must have done worse things then we have recorded here for her to leave home at such a young age. Emmie, must’ve been so desperate to turn to a man like you.”
“You listen. I may have made mistakes in my past, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t try to fix things.”
“There’s a record in Emmie’s phone of her placing a call to the hostel to where you were living.”
Mr. Feor laughed coldly. “She was being a woman. Taking about bunnies dying and the girl being in danger.”
“Did you visit her the night of the accident?”
The answer was quick. “No. She didn’t want me near her kid.”
Stu pulled out a photo of the two Feors he’d taken from the storage unit. Dura was holding a stuffed bear. “Tell it to them.”
“I told you--”
“Look at it.”
“Hey. Get that out of my face.”
“LOOK AT THEM. WE HAVE A DEAD KID HERE. You’re granddaughter is dead because you didn’t help them.”
“OK. Fine. I went there. I went the day it happened. I just stood in from of the complex and I couldn’t bring myself to go inside. I wanted to apologize for what I did to her when she was small. I never meant for her mother to die due to my ability and I was mortified when I realize she’d inherited it as well. We’re undesirable, but that doesn’t mean we should be pushed to the edge of society. We’re Supers too. I wanted to kill her so she wouldn’t have to suffer like me. Why couldn’t we have a powerful family talent that was useful. So I didn’t go in, but I saw a speed talent go in. I saw the trail left behind, before leaving.”
“Is that all you have to say.”
Robert Feor scooped the photo of his child into his hands and burst into tears.
Comments (1)
See all