THE STRATAGEM

.5.

- Ayden

There was no doubt that I was, in every sense of the word, hungover. The throbbing in my head was one I usually experienced after drinking, although the intensity varied. Right now, it felt like I had a herd of elephants jumping on my skull, or at least that's what I think it'd feel like.

I tried to get up from wherever the heck I was, but my head was weighing me down. After a couple of tries, I was finally able to sit straight. I opened my eyes and the light rays were like millions of pointy needles piercing my eyeballs and I shut them close immediately. There was a ringing in my ears. My mouth was as dry as desert and I could only perceive the smell of alcohol. My senses were in turmoil.

"Here." I heard Joe say, and I felt something close to my fingertips. It was a glass. "That'll help."

That was all I needed to hear as I wrapped my hand around it and drank it's content. The scorching feeling that ran down my throat let me know it was the reason I was in this mess.

"What the hell dude? Another drink?"

"Calm your t*ts, it'll help you feel better."

"Better?"

"Yes, better. Now shut up and wait it out." Joseph said, sounding frustrated.

I had to take his word for it. He had more experience with this than I do.

Ten minutes later, with my face down his toilet for third time, after throwing up twice, I did feel better. I exited the toilet back to his room and he was seated on the bed with a cigarette in hand. I sat next to him.

"Byrone hasn't sent any info on your men yet."

"Byrone?" I asked.

"The kid from the pub. It's past six already. He's never late."

"Maybe he's caught up with something."

He exhaled with smoke coming out of his mouth.

"I'm coming with you to the precinct."

He turned to look at me. "What for?"

"You were right, mopping about doesn't help, I want to see what they found out from the investigation."

"Alright then." Joseph said, picking up an ash tray from the floor and placing his cigarette on it.

_____

The station was still as vivacious as usual. Officers were either walking about, working behind their desks or conversing.

As soon as we stepped in, everywhere fell silent.

Ashley even placed her coffee mug down on her table, and that says a lot. No one, and no thing has ever been known to get in the way of her finishing up her usual 3'o clock coffee, once she starts to have it- until now.

"Get the hell back to your f*cking work." His voice boomed across the room, and it became noisy right after. Everyone knows not to mess with Joseph.

"Go on to the investigations department to find out what they have, I'll go to my end to see what's up then I'll come join you."

I gave him a small nod and he walked off.

Along the way, I was offered condolences and inquiries were made into how I was and I responded with brief nods.

A big screen with an enlarged map of a street in Chelsea, Manhattan, was what my sight fell on the moment I opened the door to the investigations department. Next to it was a glass board filled with sticky notes, pictures, and information written with a marker that related to the case at hand and an officer Infront of it.