Julius Rosenthal will make candy no more and other short stories by Nicholas Russell (young adult books to read .txt) 📗

Jack half way to the elevator. It belonged to his Captain. Carol’s family may have bought her office, but it didn’t change the fact that she was good at her job. With a half turn back Jack caught site of her. She was dressed to the nines as always. “You haven’t checked in since you left the scene.”

“I notified next of kin.” Jack’s answer came out a little more curt then he would have liked. He wanted to say something, tell her he didn’t mean to be rude. The words simply didn’t come to him in time.

“And you took the trains.” It may have sounded like a question but Carols tone made her intention clear. As she stepped closer Jack noticed that she was actually dressed nicer than usual which was saying something. “We provide cars you know, for official use.”

Jack started to answer her. Part of him wanted to, but it wasn’t the time. “You look nice. Hot date or something?”

Carol pushed past his deflection. Bringing up a new point “We also have a Chaplain service to handle notifications.”

“A boy died today Carol. I’m not going to let some computer program turn his death into a series of proper responses.” Jack’s tone had turned dark. His fingers began to twitch as his arms ran cold. “We owe more than a pre-compiled set of questions to these families. Do you know what they designed that system for?”

“Suicides.” Carol’s voice was low and it was obvious that she was uncomfortable. This was an old argument, but it was one they still had every few months. Jack noticed the change in Carol and took a step closer lowering his voice as well.

“All that system cares about is avoiding another death.” Jack slipped his coat on and started for the elevator once more. Carol’s heels clicked as she followed after him. Pushing the elevators call button Jack waited silently. The argument wasn’t over and Carol was always one to have the last word.

The elevator chimed just as the steel grey doors slid open. Carol matched Jacks steps and entered the elevator with him. “That is why we offer counseling with a real live person. All they have to do is ask.”

Jack turned to say something but Carol cut him off. “Speaking of counseling your file says you haven’t been to see the doc in almost a year.”

“That really is a nice dress.” Jack felt an urge to talk to Carol, but he wasn’t sure if she was his boss right now or an old friend. Instead he let a silence settle between the two as they jointly watched the floors tick away on a digital readout above the door.

“Jack.” Her voice was soft and it brought back memories of the better times with Peggy.

“I didn’t feel like we were making any real progress.” Jack’s hands started to fidget and he slipped them in and out of his pockets reflexively. Realizing he had left his computer in his pocket Jack pulled it out and flipped it in his hand a couple of times before slipping it back into its pouch.

“Have you gotten rid of that companion droid?” It was a question Carol didn’t want to ask. She found out about the droid a year earlier when Jack had been hit by a car. The site of it had obviously caused her some concern, but she had never reported him for it. Jack looked to Carol and for the briefest of moments held her gaze. He tried to hold it longer but couldn’t bring himself to do it. He had never really known her when he dated her sister. It wasn’t until Jack transferred to the Fifth street precinct that they got to know each other. He was about to lie to her and while Carol was a great cop she had a bad habit of taking her friends at their word.

“Yeah I got rid of it.” The elevator chimed and the doors started to open. Jack didn’t wait for them to completely open before squeezing through. The entry way to the building was mostly glass and Jack could see a black town car waiting out front. Knowing that she would offer him a ride if for no other reason than to keep the conversation going, Jack turned and fled into the underground parking.

It took another three trains for Jack to get home. The apartment building Jack called home once had a name but it had fallen out of use a few decades before the building fell out of repair. Now it was simply one-twelve Washington street. Most of the residents were long term with only the first floor having a hotel like revolving door. As he climbed the last few steps to his apartment Jack’s heart sank. Mrs. Lancaster had died a month earlier and while the woman had been a nasty neighbor she was always quiet. The super let a kid fresh out of college move into the unit. Ever since the kid moved in the only quiet time was when he passed out near the stereo. Jack had done a quick check on the kid. He had a steady job and his salary was high enough that Jack figured he wouldn’t get himself evicted anytime soon. Stopping in front of the kid’s door Jack raised his hand to knock, he paused a moment hoping that somehow his mere presence, even if unseen would somehow have an influence. When it didn’t Jack gave the door a heavy thump with his fist. The music dropped down a few decibels but less then Jack would like. A second knock elicited a giggle, from a woman not the kid and the music stayed at the same level.

The door to Jack’s apartment had been upgraded since he moved in. The standard lock had done nothing more than basic palm scan. Jack had blown his savings to have a vein scanner installed. Where the palm scanner, if your got right down to the heart