[Infinite Time]

By: Baz

[Chapter 03: Intension]

[Volt]

I understood why Akrest left the bar, if I were in the same position I would’ve escaped too. A week had passed since the funeral and I barely realized it. I had been spending all of my time at the station trying to find out more information about Agate. My first lead was her sister who took over the flower shop after she passed. I was hoping to find some information about the letter, thinking that maybe Agate asked her to mail it after her death.

Agate’s sister, Amy, was four years younger than her. She had Agate’s same jet black hair and petite figure. They looked almost identical except Amy had bright green eyes that always reminded me of a cat’s eye. We got along better than her sister, mostly because Amy didn’t really like her all that much. I approached the white and blue flower shop that was very mundane compared to the more modern buildings in downtown Seattle. It stuck out like a sore thumb and because of that it garnered many customers.

Aside from selling flowers, Agate also provided a café with various caffeinated drinks. This attracted the artsy crowds from bigger coffee shop chains. The people seemed to almost live at the shop, always there with their laptops and various business papers sprawled not only on the tables but the floor around them too. It was difficult to find a seat I imagined, but I wasn’t there to waste space or leech Wi-Fi. I cut through the line and approached Amy who was frantically trying to juggle customer’s demands of coffee and bouquets.

“Hello Amy, it’s Volt.” I said loudly over the generic jazz music and grinding coffee beans. “I need to ask you a few questions about a letter that Agate wrote.”

She was shocked to see me and motioned for her two other employees to cover her as she took off her navy blue apron that had accrued a lot of coffee stains. The smell of lattes and various espresso beans was so intoxicating it felt like I was getting a contact high from the persistent fumes. She waved me back to the employee lounge and sat down on one of the generic plastic chairs you’d find in school.

“It’s been a long time, Atlas.” She was one of the only people aside from my family who called me by my real name. “How have you been?”

Sitting down across the circular table from her, I cleared my throat and pulled out the torn envelope with the date postmarked still visible. “I’ve been alright, I’m concerned for Akrest though. He’s become a recluse.”

“I feel about the same as he does, the only thing keeping me going is this shop.” She said, standing up and walking to the counter. She poured coffee in two paper cups and added creamer and sugar to them. “Here you go, just like you always loved it.”

I nodded to her and took the warm paper cup from her. I couldn’t stop staring at the light brown hue of the coffee. Making a conscious effort, I averted my attention back to Amy and focused on my main goal.

“I want you to take a look at the handwriting and date on this envelope. I found it on the floor of Akrest’s apartment.” I handed it to her and sipped on the sweet coffee that moistened my goatee as it steamed into my nose and eyes.

She carefully picked the envelope up and examined it, I was examining her closely as she did. There was no change in her blank expression as she looked it over. After a moment she slid it back across the table to me.

“That’s really strange, I wonder who placed it there.” She looked at my hand as I pocketed the envelope. “Wait, you don’t think I’m a suspect, do you?”

Her hands moved back under the table as she asked the question.

“Right now I am just trying to find out more information about her death, no stone unturned.”

“She did leave a voicemail on the night before she was found dead, she sounded panicked. I figured it was the high amount of drugs they had her on. You think she might’ve been murdered?” she concluded.

I took another gulp of coffee before answering. “It’s very possible, I’m opening her case and doing a full scale autopsy on her tomorrow. The body is to be recovered from the grave tonight.”

She was offended at my last statement. “You can’t be serious? Desecrating her remains?!” she stood up and started toward the door. “This conversation is over, Atlas, and as far as I’m concerned so is our friendship.”

She knew how hard-headed I was, that I would not stop the investigation at her request or anyone else’s. I finished my coffee quickly and followed her back out to the shop front. I had lost my fair share of friends and family to this job, and she was just another notch on my belt. I decided as I exited the shop to call Akrest and check up on him.

∞∞∞

[Akrest]

I sat up in bed, my phone rang loudly and nearly vibrated off of the table. I fumbled for the phone and checked who was calling. I took a deep breath and answered the call, wiping sweat from my brow.

“Hey Volt, what’s up?” I asked, pretending to care.

“I was just checking up on you and also wanted you to know that I’ve reopened Agate’s case. I have reason to believe it’s a murder.” His voice was sharp, yet his tone very cold.

“A murder?” I hadn’t even considered her cause of death to be anything but natural.

“Yes, I will let you know if there is any new information about her. Just be careful because if it was a homicide, the killer may be after you next.” He cautioned.

“Thanks, Volt. Keep me posted and please, please respect her death.” I really didn’t want to think about what they may do to her body in the autopsy, it felt like they were desecrating her, regardless of if it was my old friend overseeing it or not.

“No problem.” His tone changed to a more positive one. “And since you knew the most about her, would you mind stopping by my place and telling me any details that may lead to her killer?”

That’s the last thing I wanted to do, I was really dead set on living the last of my days here in this apartment. ‘Pull your head out of your ass and get outside, Akrest!’ I thought to myself, taking a deep breath.

“Alright, where are you staying at these days?” I realized how little I knew about him anymore.

“I have a suite at The W, I’ll tell the desk to show you up to Room 317.” We exchanged goodbyes and I decided to get up and shave. A quick shower later and a fresh set of warm clothes and I was out the door to the Parking Garage.

The apartment I lived in was just outside of central Seattle, where the skyscrapers melted down into countless residential buildings that all looked the same. The graveyard where Agate’s body lay was just up the hill, naught but six blocks away. I unlocked the Mitsubishi Eclipse car door and hopped inside. I hadn’t used the car since I signed over the flower shop to Agate’s sister, Amy, four months ago. I started the car and was surprised it still had a full tank. I looked to the passenger’s seat where Agate would always sit, leaning more toward me than the door.

I plugged my Zune HD into the car stereo and that’s when I noticed the floor mat of the passenger’s side had caked on mud with noticeable pink hues. Upon further inspection, the pink hue became a dark maroon color as my eyes moved up to the seat. There was no mistaking it for blood. I felt like I had seen a ghost, blood seemed to dissipate from my face to my gut. Whose blood was this? It couldn’t have been mine; I would’ve recalled something like that happening to me. There had to be at least an ounce of dried blood on the black leather interior. I couldn’t go to Volt’s hotel room with something like this in my car.

I checked the arm rest compartment for any sort of cleaning supplies and finally found some in the glove compartment. The cleansing wipes were a bit old but would have to do. I pulled up the floor mat and placed it overturned on my doorstep. I enjoyed being able to park in the garage and have quick access to my apartment without having to go in through the front. I hated seeing people, especially ones I’d hear fucking through the paper thin walls every night.

I shrugged off the thought and proceeded to clean up the rest of the blood. I was distracted by the white wipes becoming pink and then red with every swipe of my hand against the soft leather seat. The remainder of wipes were thrown into a small plastic bag and placed along with the floor mat into my house. I locked the door and took off down the street.

As soon as I hit downtown Seattle my mind began its usual course of wishful thinking. I knew I wouldn’t find a good parking spot let alone be able to get to one easily during rush hour. The constant stop-and-go rhythm of traffic quickly put me in an almost trance-like state. Linkin Park’s Numb drowned out most of the beeping and squealing of brake pads against tires as I made it to University Street. I was trapped in the left lane and noticed a strange looking man on the sidewalk.

His eyes are what caught my attention, devoid of any color and dilated. Next his black wool coat and grey short-peaked hat and then his unusual Poly-Gabardine black pants with navy blue shoes. He had a strange aura around him as well; he seemed to walk in slow motion and never miscalculated a single movement. As I watched this poetry in motion my whole body seemed to be drawn to the left sidewalk as well as my car. The last thing I saw was a brief blur of a utility pole and my steering wheel enveloping my vision as it lunged up to bite me with an unconscious grip.

Red lights and the sparking red spider webs on the outer rim of my dizzy vision woke me up. My head fizzed and pounded relentlessly as I steadied my equilibrium upright. The first thing that came to my rattling brain was that I couldn’t have police and paramedics see any remains of the unknown blood that was on the passenger seat. I knew no amount of wipes, as much as they’d like to claim they kill 99.9% of bacteria, could clean up the dried blood down to its molecular bond to the leather. I didn’t have enough strength to exactly flee from the scene quickly, in spite of all the spectators gathering to see the wreckage. My vision finally cleared up enough to effectively open the door. I looked past the faceless people for the peculiar man but couldn’t find him anywhere.

“Are you okay?” an older woman asked me, helping me out.

“Yeah, I’ve had better days though.” I sighed; the front end of the vehicle was totaled.

“There’s an ambulance on the way. Here, let me help you to sit down.” She grabbed my arm and pushed people with cameras glued to their face out of the way.

Whether I liked it or not, there was no time to double-check for any remaining evidence. I just hoped my blood would be found rather than anyone else’s on the seat. Blood that I had not noticed before began streaming down my face and dropping its temperature in the chilly weather. The woman reached in her purse and pulled out a couple aspirin, wet naps, and adhesive medical strips. It reminded me of my grandmother when I first saw her, she was a walking hospital.

“Come prepared?” I laughed a bit.

“Just try to relax, I’m going to nurse the wounds on your forehead and arm a bit. Take these.” She handed me the aspirin and began dabbing at my forehead first. “I actually used to be a nurse here in Seattle back in 1965. There used to be a hospital close to Elliott Bay on Harbor Island.”

Just like my grandmother, always talking about her past. I just wanted to get out of there quickly.

“In the springtime an earthquake hit and crumbled most of the foundation it was built upon. Within the next day the hospital was completely submerged in the bay, we couldn’t get all the patients out quick enough. What a tragedy it was.” She blabbered on, moving to my forearm with her wet naps of stinging pain.

I nodded occasionally and began to think about the man I had seen earlier, he stuck out like a sore thumb in this town that’s for sure. I looked up to see the paramedics approaching me with various boxes full of medical supplies. Their blue t-shirts didn’t really make them look convincing and I doubted any of them gave a shit about what they were doing. I answered typical questions and got a little nervous when the police stepped in.

“What’s your name?” the testosterone drenched officer asked.

Before I could respond another suit asked me for my license and an explanation, what a bunch of idiots. I reached for my wallet and handed them my license. Before I could get a sentence of explanation in, Volt ran up and flashed his badge at the coppertops.

“He’s a suspect in case investigation number 354364, I will take it from here sirs.” He said convincingly, then he leaned in to the officer who first spoke to me and whispered something. The officer nodded and looked back at me momentarily while he and his partner left the scene.

A tow truck arrived and made its way through the now-thinning traffic to tow away my ride. I stood up and grabbed my Zune HD and coat. Turning around, Volt got right up in my face.

“What the hell were you thinking? I expected you to call a cab and not try to drive in your state of mind!” he yelled, the crowd of gatherers dissipated in his wake.

“Whatever dude. Thanks for getting the cops off of me, why don’t we take this conversation inside?” I diverted, not wanting to be outside anymore. I had been stared at enough today to fill a lifetime.

“Alright, just try and be more careful from now on.” He let off. “Especially with this case being reopened, Akrest. There’s no time for publicity stunts.”

We rounded the corner and ended up right outside The W Hotel. It’s white exterior with square black accents reminded me of a game of chess for some reason. Atop the building was a looming pyramid of glass polygons that brought back days of wireframe video games. Black flags with The W printed in white flown quietly in the wind above the entrance and two similar plaque emblems of The W made out of black marble marked either side of the entrance. Once inside the lobby, the first thing that caught my eye was the grey and black tiling that was edged off with wood flooring. My footsteps didn’t make as loud of a sound as I imagined they would when I walked upon the tiles. We began our ascent up a small set of stairs to go to the elevator and it was difficult to take my eyes off of the eight metal bars that wrapped around the balusters. The cold steel quickly warmed in my hands and I noticed people looking at the wound on my forehead as we waited for an elevator to come down.

“This place is really nice!” I exclaimed, having never been there before.

“It’s pretty cool I admit. Akrest, you’ll have to pardon the mess upstairs. It’s been pretty hectic with the new leads in the case of your late wife.” His voice always seemed to go from cheerful to solemn every time he mentioned her.

I knew that they didn’t get along too well; being as I had basically chose her rather than him. He had just relocated up here when I moved out to live with her. I can be real jerk sometimes.

“It’s all good, I’m sure the distractions of this luxurious hotel will help.” I joked as we entered the elevator.

We arrived in his hotel room moments later and I spent a good five minutes checking the place out before returning to the light brown couch with red throw pillows placed at either end. They seemed to magnetize toward me as I sunk into the comfy, soft couch. I hadn’t even noticed all the scattered papers and random newspaper clippings pinned to the wall nearest the bed. Volt sat on his bed and grabbed his laptop to check up on work.

Agate’s smile haunted me as countless pictures on the wall stared me down. Her mischievous smile always gave the illusion she knew some deep, dark secret about you and I hated it the most.

“So why exactly are you reopening her case? You said you had reason to believe it was a murder?” I asked, sitting on the bed beside him.

“I’ll need a handwriting sample from you, turns out that letter you got from Agate may have been written after her death. And if that turns out to be the case, the killer would have written it.” Volt explained.

“So I’m a suspect? Volt, you know I could never do something like that to her, I love her above all else.” I confessed.

He nodded sympathetically, and handed me a pen and paper.

“I’ll also need that letter as evidence.” He said with a deep sadness.

The weather became overcast and I could tell that a storm was brewing. I had finished with the handwriting samples and answered Volt’s questions about Agate’s death. I gazed out the window through the wooden blinds until a phone call broke my spell.

“Hello, this is Volt.” Volt said, answering the call.

His look of optimism faded into concern as he eyed me for a second then looked back to the carpet.

“Okay, thank you, I’ll be out momentarily.” He ended the call and looked over to me. “Agate’s body is missing from her grave.”

“What? That’s impossible!” I was shocked, who took my wife and what did they do to her?

“I’m heading out to the cemetery near your place, you’re welcome to tag along or hang out here. It shouldn’t take long; they said they found no evidence of tampering.”

I decided to stay here awhile and recover from the accident. Sure enough, thunder struck and lightning flashed outside the window. I was used to such bi-polar weather in Washington. Volt gave me a spare key and grabbed his overcoat and left quickly. I waited a few moments before getting up and heading to the bathroom to assess the damage done to my forehead.

A brilliant, oval-shaped mirror with ivory and brass flowing around it showed me my rough condition. I took a breath and turned the faucet on. The frosted green glass countertop felt cold and coarse under my fingernails as I leaned in and stared at myself for a moment. I rinsed my face off and patted it down on a really soft, white, and fuzzy towel that became as pink as the wipes did when I wiped down the car. I stared at the little dried specks of blood amidst the reddish hue and lost myself in them.

Lightning cracked outside and startled me; I snapped out of it and threw the towel in the trashcan. I really needed to get ahold of myself. I wonder if it really was a murder, the more I followed Volt, the more likely the outcome seemed to materialize. My ears were still ringing a bit as I shut the light off and sat down on the bed. Minutes passed and I grew increasingly impatient. I gathered my Zune HD and coat, opened the door and left. I needed to get out of there, I needed a drink.

∞∞∞

[Volt]

I arrived at the graveyard and approached the fellow officers gathered around an upturned grave. I slid under the police tape and said hello to them as I looked inside the casket. Sure enough, it was empty. No signs of tampering, no loose dirt around the scene aside from what the police had created in acquiring the casket. There was nothing to work with. Akrest’s statements didn’t give me any real leads either. I was about to leave the scene when I noticed a crumbled piece of paper in the bottom of the casket, upon further examination it was a ferry ride ticket stub. The date was unreadable and the weathered paper itself was in bad shape.

Upon further inspection I was finally able to make out which ferry it was, the Seattle-Bainbridge Island Ferry. I texted Akrest letting him know I’d drop back by and pick him up to head with me to the island.

Another cop pushed past the others and looked at me. He appeared to be in a standard work suit with a dark blue tie that went well with his lighter blue undershirt. The man’s receding hairline and fire engine red complexion startled me a bit. He had a striking red goatee that had two patches on either side of his chin. It appeared that he was in the FBI or another bureau outside of the state’s jurisdiction. He wore a nice black trench coat that repelled the constant rain. Down and down the rain drops slithered along the coat creating a dizzying effect if stared at long enough. He grabbed the stub from my hand and spoke with a strange accent I could not recognize.

“We’ll be taking over from here, buster.” He said, flashing his badge and turning away to his men who were coming up to the crime scene. Sure enough he was in the FBI; I didn’t need to see his badge to know that for his cockiness was quite enough.

I didn’t even bother retorting or conversing, I radioed my Chief and told him I was heading home for the day. I quickly got into my truck and took off. After I picked up Akrest, we’d head to the ferry before the hour was over and before any other cops could catch a ride.