Story "Officer Midnight"

Officer Midnight

"Can you tell us where your father is?" Officer Truman asks. Officer Truman appears to be in his late fifties and must eat a lot of those police doughnuts. He’s stout and not very muscular. He has brown eyes. His hair is black and slicked back.

"Why do you want to know where he is?" I signed.

"We just need to ask him a few questions, that’s all." The Captain says. The Captain is maybe a little older then Officer Truman. The Captain’s hair is brown and neatly combed over his balding spot. He is taller then Officer Truman but shorter then the young officer.

"About what? Dad hasn’t been home since he lost his job at the store." I sign to them. The young officer, he must have just started, was telling the Captain and Officer Truman what I had signed.

"Do you know his whereabouts? Has he written to you?" The young officer signs to me. The young officer’s name is Officer Midnight. Officer Midnight is tall and muscular. He is in his twenties. His hair is red and shaggy.

"Last I heard he was in Nevada. But that was at least three months ago. What kind of questions do you need to ask him?" I signed to Officer Midnight.

"It’s about the bank robbery, the one four and a half months ago. Do you remember that robbery, Sam?" Officer Midnight signed.

"Why do you want to ask him questions about that robbery. He was working when it took place." I told him. He turned and started talking to the Captain and Officer Truman, still signing.

"Sam says her father was working when the robbery took place. She also hasn’t heard from him in three months. Last she heard he was in Nevada." Officer Midnight told them.

"Does she know what he was doing in Nevada? Tell her, her father is suspected to have driven the get-away car." Officer Truman told him.

"No need to. Officer Midnight was signing the whole time. Yes, I know what he was doing. He wrote about it in his letter. But I couldn’t tell you off hand. Besides what makes you think he was driving the get-away car?" I sign.

"He was missing from work between three and four. When he got back he said he had to get his son’s birthday present. But you don’t have a brother." The Captain says.

"Okay, but I did have a brother. He died when he was four. Mom was always in the dumps after he died. So to help cheer her up, dad would go buy my brother a gift. Wrap it up. Then mom would go give it to a little boy on the street. This year dad bought a baseball. Mom didn’t have the strength to get out of bed to give it to any boy. So I went to my brother’s grave and set the baseball by his marker." I signed to Officer Midnight.

"Thank you, Sam. Do you remember where you but the letter? Have you ever tried to write to him at the return address?" Officer Midnight asks.

"It said in the letter not to attempt to write back. So I never did. Yes, I remember where I placed the letter. But ever since Mom died, I’ve been living with my uncle. He doesn’t like to see the letter, so I keep it hidden."

"Okay. I’m going to take you back to your uncle’s house, so you can give us that letter. Will your uncle be home tonight?"

"No, he works nights during the summer. It’s so he can keep an eye on me. But even if you just drop me off I’d come back with the letter."

"That doesn’t matter. Come on let’s go. I’ll buy you supper." Officer Midnight signed.

"You don’t have to buy me supper. Uncle will have left me something." I tell him.

"All the same." He says. "She’s going to give us her father’s letter. Since her mother’s death, Sam’s been staying at her uncle’s house. So I’m going to drive her there and get the letter." Officer Midnight tells the Captain and Officer Truman.

"Okay. But don’t stay out too late. I want a full search for Sam’s father once we get the letter. Is that clear, Midnight?" The Captain said.

"Crystal clear, Captain. Sam let’s go."

As we drove out of the parking lot, a woman officer ran up to the car. Officer Midnight introduced her. Officer Jongg has long brown hair, which she keeps in a braid. She is very attractive and must be in her twenties also.

"Sam, is it all right if Officer Jongg joins us for supper? Her shift just ended and she needs to eat." Officer Midnight asks.

"Sure. Are we going to drop her off at home, too? Sorry, that was rude of me." I sign.

"No, need to apologize. I had hoped you two would drop me off. But if it’s out of your way, you don’t have to." Officer Jongg signed.

Then Officer Midnight said something to her and she laughed and said something back.

"What’s so funny?" I ask.

"Officer Midnight told me, he didn’t know, I knew how to sign. I told him that my grandma is deaf and my grandpa hard of hearing. But they both sign." Officer Jongg said. "Maybe some day you can meet them."

"If my uncle needs anything he just writes what he needs. So there’s no need for talking or signing. Sometimes I’m afraid I’ll forget how to sign." I sign to them.

"If you ever need someone to sign to just come to the station. Officer Midnight or myself would be happy to sit and sign with you." Officer Jongg said.

Once we were done eating, we went and dropped Officer Jongg off at her apartment building. It looked old and it was falling apart.

"Thanks for supper and the ride." Said Officer Jongg.

"You actually live here?" I signed.

"Yes."

"My uncle has an extra room. He’s going to rent it out. It’s the best room in the house. Maybe you could come check it out. It’s on the corner of west Jewels and north Nukem."

"I will, thanks. Is tomorrow okay?"

"I’ll give you the number. But if he says it’s okay, you have to act like you don’t know me."

"Gotcha. Night Andy. Night Sam."

"Night Judy." Officer Midnight said.

"Night Officer Jongg." I signed.

After we dropped off Officer Jongg, we went to Uncle’s house.

"That’s funny. Uncle should have left, but the car is still here." I say.

"Could he have gotten a ride from anyone?"

"No, Uncle would rather walk then ask for a ride."

Officer Midnight pulled into the driveway. We got out and went to the back door. It was slightly open.

"Uncle never leaves the door open. We only use the back door. All our friends use the back door, too. I’ll quick go check the front."

"Be careful Sam. If it’s open come back okay. I don’t want you going in by yourself."

"Okay. I don’t think it will be."

As I went to the front, Officer Midnight checked the back door for any signs of forced entry. I slowly walked to the front. The door appeared to be open, but I went up the stairs and across the porch to be sure. It was open part of the way. Once I saw that it was open I ran to the steps and jumped all four. I ran as fast as I could back to Officer Midnight.

"It’s open. But Uncle wouldn’t leave it open. But…"

"What is it Sam? But what?"

"But Dad would. Dad was always leaving the doors open, front and back. Do you think he would come back after what he’s being accused of?"

"He might if he was trying to clear his name. He might’ve come to your Uncle’s house because one he needs a place to stay and two you’re here."

"But why would he risk getting me involved? Do you think he would come get me hoping I wouldn’t say anything to you, the police?"

"I don’t know but I don’t like the idea of you staying here if we know for a fact that your dad is back looking for you. We’re going to go in, but stay behind me. Okay?"

"Okay. What if dad’s not here? What if Uncle just forgot to shut the door?"

"You said that your uncle would never leave the door open."

"Yes, let’s go in and get it over with."

As we went in, I noticed a light on in the living room and pointed it out to Officer Midnight. I told him Uncle wouldn’t leave lights on either. When we looked in the living room, there was Uncle on the couch with knife in his back.

"Don’t look, Sam. I want you to go upstairs and pack clothes for a few weeks. The other police aren’t going to let you stay here. I going to call the station."

"Officer Midnight, would you come up with me. Just in cause Dad’s up there. I don’t think he would be, but I’d feel safer. Besides I have a phone in my room you can use."

"Good idea. Do you want me to go first?"

"Yeah. My room’s the second on the left. The first on the left is a bathroom. There are three doors on the right. The first is a guestroom, the second is a closet, and the last one is Uncle’s room."

"Thanks for letting me know I’ll check them all out."

Officer Midnight started up the stairs. I was right behind him. He went to the guestroom first. Then he checked the bathroom and the closet. He started towards my room when something came from Uncle’s room. I stomped on the floor and pointed to Uncle’s room. Officer Midnight turn just in time to miss the hit. He punched the figure until it was slumped against the wall.

"Do you know him?" He said.

"Yes. It’s father. He must have been waiting for me. He probably didn’t expect someone to be with me."

" Good thing I was."

"Yes, it was. He’s he going to be okay?"

"He’ll be okay, he’s just knocked out. Come on let’s get you packed." Officer Midnight said as he put handcuffs on Dad, as I head towards my room. I started to pack some clothes when Officer Midnight walked in.

"I’m going to use the phone. Just keep packing. Remember pack for a few weeks." He said as he picked up the phone and dialed the police station.

"Yea, I need two ambulances to take the suspect to the hospital and the other to take the deceased to the morgue. Also get Officer Jongg to come and pick up the suspect’s daughter. We need to find a place for her to stay, because there is no way that she can stay here in her uncle’s house… Okay we’ll be waiting out front." Officer Midnight said into the phone.

"Where will I be staying?" I asked him. "I want to stay with Officer Jongg if it’s possible."

"I’ll see what I can do. Are you done packing?"

"Yes. I just want to get out of here." I said. We went downstairs and waited for the ambulance and Officer Jongg to show up.

"Sam, you realize that now then ever we need you to help us. Your father might get charged with the murder of your uncle, along with the robbery. Can you tell me anything that was different about your father before the robbery took place?" Officer Midnight asked.

"I’d have to check my journal. If he did act strange I would’ve written about it."

"Do you have it with you?"

"NO. I forgot to grap it. It’s in the drawer of the nightstand."

"You stay here I’ll go get it. What ever happens, stay right here, okay?" He asked me. I nodded my head.

Just as Officer Midnight was coming out of the house, the ambulances and Officer Jongg pulled up. Officer Midnight told the EMT’s were the bodies where and what was wrong with them. Officer Jongg asked Officer Midnight what had happened,

"Ask her, please." I asked as a tugged on his sleeve. He looked at me and nodded his head.

"Sam, wants to know if she can stay with you. I’d have to check with the Captain. But she specifically asked for you." He told her while signing so I’d know what he was saying.

"Sure, as long as the Captain says it’s okay." Officer Jongg answered.

I smiled as I got into Officer Jongg’s police car. I waited for Officer Midnight and Jongg to finishing talking. When they were done Officer Midnight put my bags in the trunk. When Officer Jongg got in the car I asked what they talked about. She merely said she’d tell me later.

When we got to the station Officer Midnight had already started on the paperwork. He waved when he saw us.

"Now what were you two talking about?" I signed to Officer Jongg.

"Not yet." She told me.

*This is where this one ends as well. I'm sure I had something figured out, but most of the time I fly by the seat of my pants with my writing,I do very little outlining