“You like it here?”
Her perfect eyes resembled those of a comic book character. Quinn didn’t think those kinds of eyes existed, but there they were, beckoning him to say something pithy. Quinn’s green oval eyes widened, and his shaggy, brown hair blew in the wind for a beat too long.
“I guess so.”
He sensed she liked him, but all he could muster was an, “I guess so.” He had his chance, and he blew it.
Quinn felt like he always blew it. But in that dream, the only one he’d remembered in a long time, things were different. He didn’t let the moment hang in the air. He didn’t end the conversation with an, “I guess so.”
Quinn snapped back to the present and forced a smile as Logan stepped onto the crosswalk. Logan walked faster, but it was a wide street, and dozens of people surrounded him.
Logan navigated through the sea of arms and legs. Every so often, he caught a glimpse of the officer, whose expression must have told Logan that he better hurry.
The crowd blocked Logan’s view. A low-pitched echo reverberated through the air. Vibrations ricocheted through Logan’s bones. And then there was the chatter, which quickly turned into shouts and screams.
Logan froze in place. At first, there was nothing but a hint of smoke and something grey and black just beneath what would have been his line of sight, below the heads of the people walking next to him. A sliver of it would emerge now and again, but not enough to reveal what was causing the commotion.
Rubber and metal squeaked like nails on a chalkboard. By the time Logan noticed the truck, followed by a trailer, it was too late.
People scattered near the intersection. The truck slowed, but not fast enough. It hit the curb. Inertia carried the trailer forward. Logan ran faster, but the truck rolled, flipped, and took turns smashing everything on the sidewalk before it finally launched into the air.
The massive steel rectangle raced towards Logan. Time slowed. Logan couldn’t move, and then... it was over.
The trailer touched down in front of them, rolling a few times before it came to a halt, half a block away from their location.
Officer Channing ran towards the scene. Quinn followed the large uniformed, hulking, blue streak as Officer Channing made his way to the scene of the disturbance.
“Logan!” Quinn shouted as he stepped forward.
“Wait, where are you going?” the portly driver asked.
“Logan!”
Quinn walked a few feet more. His heart pounded like it was going to burst through his chest.
A few stragglers ran across the crosswalk unscathed, amidst the newly formed sculpture of contorted, lifeless bodies that stretched dozens of yards in a sick display of live art. Smoke billowed from several broken pipes, and water spewed into the air from a main break near the intersection. The faint scent of motor oil and sewage wafted towards Quinn.
“You wait right here,” Officer Channing said. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”
The officer’s fingers tapped his taser, and Quinn could tell this was the kind of cop that loved to use it. Quinn stood, immobile. Blood raged in his inner ear and pushed against his eardrum. Officer Channing surveyed the area. He approached a lifeless body, knelt down, and put his finger on the victim’s neck.
Sirens blared. A large fire truck sped towards the area. A half dozen police cars followed. Moments later, a dozen cops rushed over to help Officer Channing.
Quinn failed to spot Logan among the bodies. He stood motionless. A cloud of mist engulfed him. Quinn rubbed his face. His eyes watered. His heart pounded. Sweat poured down the sides of his face and drenched his shirt.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Black, but you’re going to have to come with me to the station,” Officer Channing said.
Chapter 2
“What about Logan? I can’t see Logan. Can I at least walk over there and see if he’s okay?”
“The police and rescue personnel will handle it from here.”
Just then, Officer Channing triggered something in his memory, but Quinn couldn’t place it. “Please. He’s my friend.”
“Listen, Mr. Black. Just be glad you’re not one of those people lying on the ground. I’ll take you to the station, and then we’ll sort things out. But I’m not going to let you get in the way and slow us down.”
Officer Channing opened the squad car’s back door and directed Quinn to take a seat. Quinn ducked into the back and fastened his seat belt.
The crowd grew larger, gawking at the paramedics who were assisting the victims. Quinn scanned the pavement, hoping to make out Logan’s pin-striped suit and tall figure, but to no avail.
Officer Channing put the keys in the ignition. His imposing biceps popped as he drove in the opposite direction. Quinn gazed through the back window until the intersection disappeared below the horizon.
Once they arrived at the station, Officer Channing directed Quinn to a cubicle near the back of the room.
Quinn sat down. It was the first time he had ever been in a police station. It fit his perception right down to the jelly-donut aroma and burnt coffee stench. He never had a reason to go before. He’d never been arrested and wasn’t sure if he was now. He hadn’t been cuffed or Mirandized. At least there was that.
“Wait right here while I go talk to my supervisor,” Officer Channing said.
If it were any other day, Quinn would’ve had a heart attack from being taken in, but all he could think about was Logan.
The police station was filled with frantic people asking about loved ones. Quinn stared at the large wall-clock and counted the seconds. He needed to call the office, but his phone was dead. He sat next to the booking officer for half an hour until the man finally hung up the phone.
“Is this really necessary? It’s all just a misunderstanding. I had the money in my office. I just couldn’t get there because of the accident. And I need to know if my boss is okay. He was one of the people who walked out in the street when the truck crashed. I think he’s hurt. Can I call the office?” Quinn asked.
“I’m sorry to hear about your boss, and I hope he’s all right. Now, about this theft of service…” the booking officer said before Quinn cut him off.
“Theft of service? My wallet fell out of my pocket. Like I told the taxi and the officer who dropped me off, I have the money. I wasn’t trying to rip anyone off.”
“I see now why Officer Channing brought you in.”
“Why’s that?” Quinn asked.
“You’re a bit lippy.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be rude. It’s just been a crazy morning. Would you be willing to let me call my office to see if Logan’s okay and if they can bring over some cash to pay the taxi fare?”
The officer nodded, directing him to a nearby phone.
“Meredith, this is Quinn. I’m freaking out now. Did you see what happened to Logan? He was coming out of the office at the same time as the crash. I think he’s hurt, maybe worse,” Quinn said.
“I’m not sure about Logan. He was in the office earlier, but then he left. Is there anything else I can help you with?” Meredith asked.
“You must know something. The office is right there. It’s been a while now, and you must’ve heard something.”
“You’ll just have to wait like the rest of us.” Quinn heard a click.