Chapter 3 - Suspect

This is the third chapter of the book.

The very next day, Michael went to training with Daniel with a big smile on his face. “Hey, what’s with that?” said Daniel. “What’s what?” said Michael. “You seem accomplished with that grin. A week ago, you were defeated after losing your wife.” said Daniel. “Well, everyone has a different way to cope. I’m doing what she would want and that is to be happy and move on.” said Michael. “I see.” said Daniel. Michael scrolled through Boston newspaper articles on his phone and read one that spoke about civilians’ bank accounts being hacked into. As Daniel drove the vehicle on Columbia Road both he and Michael screamed at the sight of an explosion at the intersection with Dudley and Stoughton Street. Cars and pedestrians were sent flying into the nearby buildings. “What the hell?” said Michael. “Call the fire department!” said Daniel. And with that, Michael did as Daniel said as well as notify the dispatch to send backup squad cars to the area. Commissioner James also raced to the scene. “Daniel, you’re alright?” said Commissioner James. “Yeah. I’m fine.” said Daniel. As Michael, other police officers and the fire fighters did crowd control, he noticed that someone in a green hoodie was staring at him. In less than a second, the unknown person ran away from the scene. That caused Michael to pursue the individual as they ran down Dudley Street. He called for backup officers to help in the pursuit as he passed through people. Fortunately for Michael, the unknown person fell on the ground. Michael took that as an opportunity to dive onto the individual and forced him to stay face down. “Look get off of me.” said the unknown person. “Unfortunately, no. If you didn’t run, then this wouldn’t be happening.” said Michael as he removed the unknown person’s hood after putting them in handcuffs and standing them on their feet. The unknown person in the hoodie was revealed to be a young African American man with cornrows. He wore a cubic zirconium earring on his right ear. “Look bro. I didn’t do anything.” said the African American man. “Why are you running from me then?” said Michael as he removed everything from the runner’s pockets. Michael gasped as he noticed that the runner had what appeared to be a detonator. He also had a folded-up map of the sewer lines in the neighborhood. “Look all that stuff are just toys.” said the runner. “Toys? Like I’m believing that. Let’s go.” said Michael as he ordered the runner to walk back to the intersection. Other police officers followed them back to the wall of patrol vehicles. “Great work Wheeler in catching him.” said Commissioner James. “Thank you, sir. I believe this is the one that blew up the area. I found these on him.” said Michael as he handed Commissioner James the detonator and map. “Perfect. Thank you, Wheeler. I will take him to the station myself.” said Commissioner James. “Are you sure? Daniel and I can do it.” said Michael. “No. I insist. All right, come on.” said Commissioner James as he placed the runner into his vehicle and drove off. Michael couldn’t help but keep his eyes on the commissioner as he left the scene. That led the lone officer to want to investigate Commissioner James. Later, that night, Michael visited Kenan at his house. Michael, Kenan and Elysia drank coffee with each other in the living room. “So, what timeline you will be visiting tonight, Michael?” said Kenan. “Honestly I want to visit nine hours ago today.” said Michael. “Why go back to that time?” said Kenan. “Because I need to follow Commissioner James. I need to know what he’s up to.” said Michael. “James. The commissioner wouldn’t be Thomas James, would it?” said Kenan. “Yes. You’ve heard of him?” said Michael. “Yes.” said Kenan as both he and Elysia started laughing. Michael looked at the couple and said, “Is that name really funny?” “It sure is.” said Kenan. “May I ask why.” said Michael. “Well. Twenty years ago, Thomas James killed my parents.” said Kenan. “Oh no.,” said Michael. “Yes, but luckily thanks to the watch you’re wearing I used it to save my parents from being killed. After saving them, my dad stripped him of his weapons and his badge, tied him up and then chucked him into a sewer.” said Kenan. “Now that is funny.” said Michael as he laughed and finished his cup of coffee. “Yeah. Now are you ready?” said Kenan. “Yes.” said Michael. “Great. Head down to the basement and use the watch down there. When you got what you needed for your investigation, head back to this timeline.” said Kenan. And so, Michael did as Kenan said and used the Cassius to go back to several hours prior to that day. Luckily Michael appeared behind one of the businesses on Columbia Road where no one could see him. He put on the hood of his jacket and covered his face, so no one had any idea of him being at the scene. Michael then waited for the explosion to occur and for Commissioner James to take the suspected bomber into his car. And with that, Michael took a ride in a taxicab and followed the commissioner to an abandoned warehouse on Haul Road in South Boston. Michael made sure not to lose sight of the commissioner as he took the suspect inside of the condemned building. The two entered through a broken window on the ground floor. Michael hid behind a post as well as listened in on their conversation. “Well done, Isaiah. You did exactly what I ordered you to do.” said Commissioner James as he removed the handcuffs off the suspects wrists. “Yes, and I remember that you agreed to pay me.” said Isaiah. “Of course. As promised. I am a man of my word.” said Commissioner James as handed Isaiah an orange envelope. “Thank you.” said Isaiah. “I hope that it’s enough. I had to hack into people’s bank accounts to get it.” said Commissioner James. “It is. This is enough to pay for my kid’s school.” said Isaiah. “Then our business is done here. You can go.” said Commissioner James. “Okay.” said Isaiah as he attempted to leave the warehouse. Michael quietly gasped as he watched the commissioner pull out a handgun equipped with a suppressor, followed Isaiah and shot him in the back of the head. “Ha! Like I make deals with monkeys.” said Commissioner James as he took the envelope and hid it under the ground along with the remote detonator. Michael then watched Commissioner James leave the building and destroy one of the rear windows of his car before leaving the scene. With Commissioner James gone, Michael put on some latex gloves he had in his pants pocket, retrieved the items Commissioner James left and stared at Isaiah’s body. “I’m sorry man.” said Michael. As he held onto the envelope and remote, Michael had decided to make Commissioner James his first suspect.