The Value
By Antonella
EMAIL: Antonella
Click clack
Thump thump
Click clack, click clack
20 minutes. No, to be exact, 22 minutes of the same gestures. Pen bouncing, fingers drumming on the desk, torturing keys of the keyboard.
Fortunately it was a dull day, one of those days when the administrative side of theirs job overruled the investigations side. The reports, that every detective must compile by the end of the day if possible - and almost never was this ‘deadline’ respected - seemed to be hanging over his men like a heavy sword of Damocles.
Especially over one particular cop. The best of his team, but the most adverse, to put into words the facts of the day.
Jim Ellison was an action man, intuitive and instinctive and much more. So when the pile of his reports menaced to tip over his desk, as in this case, the only way to put things in order was to physically force him to sit down and not leave till the last page printed was in the outbox.
Things were becoming even more difficult now that the kid was fully immersed in pre-finals. Therefore, this meant that till the end of the month, the keyword was ‘patience’.
At the moment Jim was the epitome of distraction and frustration. Simon Banks knew that the main cause of this restlessness was due to Sandburg’s absence but maybe it was something more, and maybe it was the moment to put this looong day behind them.
Click Clack, click clack
Thump thump thump
Click, clack click….
‘Hey!!! Where is the ‘clack’?!?! Something is different now, a certain familiar noise… Did I have a pen in my hand, or not?!? Wait, what is it that odor… tobacco?!?! Since when did Sandburg begin smoking?!?’ And whose is that boring voice in the background…?
“Jim, come on, can you hear me, it’s time to go. You’ve boring me so, snap out of it and go home. By the way, that report will be still on your desk waiting for you tomorrow and I want see it printed and signed before 9am, understand?”
“What… Simon, what’s happening? What are you talking about?”
“Welcome back, Detective Ellison! Sorry to bore you but since it’s obvious that this sheet will stay irredeemably blank tonight, you can just leave and stop getting on my nerves.”
“Wait a minute, Simon, I don’t understand. I was filling in this questionnaire and then I must have finished...”
“No, Jim, you were fixing the screen, playing with the pen’s cap and making obsessive and repetitive movements. A sort of ‘zone out’, or maybe not, but with the same result. You were miles away from here, therefore goodnight, see you tomorrow!”
“I’ll go as soon as I finish this questionnaire.”
“I wasn’t clear enough, Detective? I said now and I mean now!! Listen, Jim, I know that without Sandburg around, it’s harder for you—“
“I can do my job, Simon! Even without Sandburg. Or are you implying something?!?”
“Damn, Jim, I’m not implying anything but you can’t deny that the last few days, you ‘ve been more distracted and susceptible to ‘drifting off’ than usual, and that you’re going to be like that while Blair is busy at the university. So, till then I prefer that you stay in the bullpen and try to catch up with your paperwork, even if, undeniably Sandburg is better at it and no, you cannot foist them off onto anyone else or wait till the kid comes back, is that clear?!”
“Crystal, Captain!”
“Ellison…!”
“Sorry Simon. I guess that you could have a few points there....”
“A few?”
“Okay, maybe you’re right, but it isn’t just because Blair isn’t here.”
“Continue.”
“I’m worried for him. He is really under stress lately, the upcoming finals, some articles that he’s writing and he’s hoping will be published. His work here with me, then my senses… It’s just too much and then after the finals, he always ends up coming down with something, like the flu or something.”
“Blair isn’t inexperienced. The Uni, his research has been his life since he was sixteen. It’s okay to be worried but you must give credit to Sandburg and his capacity to cope, both intellectual and organizational.”
“You know that I value Sandburg.”
“You see, Detective… touchy and testy! Come on, out of here. I want to see you rested and agreeable tomorrow morning, and from hereon. All right, Detective Ellison!?”
“All right, Captain, and… Simon?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
“Nonsense. Say ‘hi’ to Sandburg for me.”
“You bet, goodnight Simon!”
“’night, Jim!”
Finis
Rome, January 2009