The Symbiotic Protocol - Chapter 13 (An Original Novella)
The neat pile of papers sat unassumingly in the centre of the smooth, oak-finished desk. A brand new set of problems awaiting a brand new set of solutions. The clues in trying to lead up to the end result were all just part of the bigger game. Life itself was a game and part of the fun was knowing when to bend the rules. Drucker always was perceived as a bit of a philosopher by his peers, but that was seen as more of an intellectual escape mechanism from the mundane tasks he was assigned to on a daily basis.
He lit up a pale cigarette whilst constantly watching the clock on the wall. It had just gone a few minutes past eleven. Behind both the hands, an inscription of the words “In God We Trust” was emblazoned across a faded eagles face. The light radiating off a long, rectangular beam stretched across the office ceiling shone directly into the eye of the eagle. It gave the face of the clock an almost angelic presence. A burning phoenix swooping down from the skies ready to rain down its wrath upon the evil and corrupt in society. An encouraging beacon of hope from the otherwise gloomy squalor of his routine. He tapped the grey ash into a small porcelain tray as a knock woke him out of his stupor.
Quickly adjusting himself into a more professional stance on his leather-backed high seat, he bellowed out in a loud voice. “Come in.” A short, squat figure of a man entered grinning through a set of yellow and green stained teeth. “Drucker, my man! Hope I’m not disturbing you from your hectic schedule of counting lily white sheep in a fluffy cloud floating over your head.” Drucker looked at him expressionless. “What’s the deal, Doug? You coming in here to give me info or give me shit? Pick one and get a move on already.” The tone of his voice matched the stern look on his face.
Doug closed the door indifferently and sidled over to a nearby chair. “Man, I’m only pulling your chain. There’s no need to be like that. Look, let’s start this conversation over. Honestly, are you alright?” The sincerity in his voice appeared genuine and Drucker took it for what it was. “No, Doug. I’m not as it happens. I think you and the boys are fully aware of that so don’t play these childish games with me. Four years working the force, doing menial jobs like issuing speeding fines or running checks on vehicles. I went through the paces and bided my time patiently until finally getting the break I was looking for and my much needed promotion. I shifted my family life, my finances, pretty much shuffling every aspect of all my personal affairs to accommodate this big change. All for what? Being stuck behind this goddamn desk filling reports and signing off orders for issued warrants. What exactly did Capt. Wallace think I meant when I asked him for a more meaningful position in this precinct? I’m going crazy here, man. Sometimes I wish I was back working the beat like before.”
Doug hunched over in the chair and stared absentmindedly at the floor, shaking his head. “I hear you, Druck. But listen, it’s only been a few weeks so far and the Cap always likes to put any newly promoted officers through a period of initiation. You know, to see how they handle responsibility and all.”
Drucker nodded toward a large framed picture on the wall. “See that guy up there?” Doug turned uncomfortably in his seat and studied the photo. An older gentleman stood in the backdrop, proudly displaying a host of medals and badges of honour pinned to his uniform jacket. “Chief Inspector Jones, one of the most decorated members of the force we’ve ever had. Climbed up the law enforcement ladder for most of his life only to die a year later after that photo was taken. Heart attack after literally being given a clean bill of health. What does that tell you?”
Doug turned back and regarded Drucker with a furrowed brow. “Erm… Don’t… Work so hard?” Drucker picked up a biro sitting in front of him and hurled it at Doug’s face. It hit him square in the forehead and clattered noisily to the ground. “Hey man! What’s your problem?” he yelled, rubbing the slightly reddened area with two chubby fingers. “I was being serious? You ain’t gotta freak out on me like that!” Drucker got up and slammed his hand on top of the pile of papers in frustration, scattering several pages in the process. “And I’m being just as serious too, Doug! Don’t make a mockery outta this whole thing! I thought you said you were gonna help me out and put in a good word with Wallace.” A bead of salty sweat rolled down his face as he closed his eyes and breathed in deeply to compose himself. Upon a quick reflection, Doug noted this was neither the time nor place for his usual jovial antics. He leaned forward and gingerly picked up the pen off the floor.
“OK, Druck. I’m sorry. I know how hard it's been for you lately. Gwen told me about your plans to start a family soon so this promotion was a priority. I get it.” Doug’s sudden change in tone took Drucker by surprise, only adding to his sobriety after the outburst. He smiled down at him cordially and raised both hands in the air. “Listen, I’m sorry for losing it for a second there. You’ve done a great deal for me in this department so far and I’m eternally grateful for that. I couldn’t have wished for a better brother-in-law than you. You sure I can’t get an ambulance called over to look at your head?” Doug chuckled quietly. “I’m sure I’ll live. Nothing a good night’s sleep won’t fix. Though if it happens again, Gwen will be the first to hear about it. And yes, you can take that as a threat.” They both laughed awkwardly as Doug’s pride was hurt more than anything else.
Knowing each other for almost their entire lives had helped forge an unusually strong bond between them that even Drucker himself found extraordinary. From playing Cowboys and Indians sprinting through the school playgrounds and playing video games together whilst their parents enjoyed regular evenings of dinner and banter right through to sharing stories of which girls they most fancied at high school and tales of many a drunken night together. They were almost inseparable. It was a simple boyhood friendship that had blossomed over the years into strong brotherly status. Drucker had always taken a liking to Gwen, but never plucked up the courage to act upon his feelings in any way for fear of ruining things between him and Doug. However, it was no secret to anyone as to how they both felt about one another. So, in the early evening of a particularly hot summer day, Doug organised a blind date for both him and his sister and the rest, as they say, was history.
Doug hoisted himself out of the fragile looking seat and starting searching in his back pocket. “As wonderful as it has been chatting with you and being humiliated in your office, I actually came to hand you your next assignment. Unfortunately, the captain has been so moody lately that I haven’t had a chance to talk to him properly about you. But it’s only a matter of time when we see a glimmer of joy in his ugly mug. I’ll seize my opportunity then.”
“Yeah, sure. Maybe when hell freezes over.” he jested as Doug handed him a tightly folded slip of paper. Drucker opened it hurriedly as Doug tried to offer up words of consolation. “Well, try to keep your spirits up until then, man. This desk gig you got going here ain’t gonna last too much longer. Mark my words. I’ve been hearing rumblings through the grapevine of better things on the horizon for you.”
