A Walk in the Park
Prologue
Steam rose from the black reflective disk. Transfixed, a man sat gazing into the darkness. He did not move; he did not blink; he did not breath in that moment as his mind fell deeper and deeper into the inky darkness. The crashing tinkle of the bell of the front door drew the man out of that black pit. He peeled his eyes away from the abyss and observed the outside world once more. The sound announced the entrance of a uniformed police officer who scanned the area before walking with a deliberate stride towards the man, taking a seat across from him . The officer looking down nervously at his fidgeting hands. The man's icy blue cold stare looked through the officer, face set in a stony lack of expression. The officer glanced up opening his mouth to speak before stopping and quickly looking back down with a shiver. The silent moment stretched uncomfortably into a minute. The man's gaze unwavering, the officer still unable to bring himself to meet it.
"Can I get you anything darling?"
The stalemate broken by the outside influence of a well meaning waitress who leaned expectantly at the officer with her little notepad primed to take a order.
"Uh, no. I will just be here a couple of minutes I think." The cop said.
Shifting her focus she ask "Freshen up your coffee dear?"
The man gave a single nod. With that assent she was quick to refill the dark mirror in a mug of black coffee and leave the two men alone.
The man sipped, then took a long deep breath. The comforting smells of sizzling lard on the grittle mingling with the strong coffee brewing. He set the mug down and cupped it with both hands, letting it's warmth radiate up his limbs and defrost his cold expression. He finally look at the officer sitting across from him. Really looked.
Bags under his eyes that don't fit his still youthful face. Nicks in his face from shaky hands and shakier mind. The slump of his shoulders and unease in his posture. He still nervously fidgeted, unsure of what to do with his hands.
Taking another sip the man cleared his throat. "Danny?"
The officer jittered a bit on the spot before responding "Uh, right, um, how do I explain this? "
He paused to collect his thoughts "Detec-"
The man raised his hand to interrupt. "Just Jack now. "
The officer nodded before continuing in a rush "I called you, what I mean to say is that you are the only one I know who can deal with this. W
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