The Police Station
4 March 1947
It was a busy day at the Police Department of Honolulu.
Lieutenant Phil More had just heard about the murder nearby the Lopez Hills Bar. He immediately called two detectives into his office.
One of them was Herbie Fox. Lieutenant More knew that he was perfect for this case. Herbie was a sixty-year-old man who had forty years of investigative experience. He loved his job, although he didn't make it show on the outside. Herbie was a stronger man with his hair going grey and with a scar on his cheek. He was usually rude to people, which might had been because of his age and cynicism, which may seemed typical for people like him.
The second detective was Albert Fringe, who was a middle-aged man who had just been promoted to a higher department. Even though he had a lot of medical problems, he believed in himself and tried to be the best detective he could possibly be. His body was fit, his hair was ginger and he had freckles on his face, which possessed somewhat of a pale characteristics.
The lieutenant spoke with them.
LIEUTENANT: Greetings, fellas. I have some bad news for you.
The lieutenant had not even finished his sentence and Herbie asked a question with sarcasm in his voice already.
HERBIE: Is it about some murder again?
The lieutenant smiled and answered.
LIEUTENANT: You just can't let me have the joy of telling you, can you?
Herbie smiled with a charming look on his face. Nevertheless, Albert joined the conversation with a serious manner.
ALBERT: What's the matter, lieutenant?
LIEUTENANT: We got a report that there was a murder near the Lopez Hills Bar. Officer Shelby found a dead body on a parking lot nearby. You should go there and investigate the crime scene.
Suddenly, Herbie got angry.
HERBIE: Do you want to send both of us there? I don't even know this man. I prefer to work alone, as you might surely know.
Albert got upset and the lieutenant stated with anger.
LIEUTENANT: For crying out loud, don't be so cold, Fox! The man standing by your side is one of the best young detectives we have here! I'm sure you'll get along just fine.
Herbie answered with a calmer tone of his voice.
HERBIE: With all due respect, lieutenant: if you saw such a load of dead bodies as I have in your life, you would be glad to have my kind of personality.
Afterwards, Herbie looked at Albert and apologized for making a scene.
HERBIE: I'm sorry, mister... What's your name?
ALBERT: Albert Fringe. Pleased to meet you, mister Fox. I'm your admirer and I really respect what you do. You're my idol.
Herbie laughed and replied.
HERBIE: I advise you to go and work in that new restaurant, which got opened a few days ago. You can buy a beef for as low as one cent there!
Albert started laughing from the bottom of his heart and the situation in the office started to look witty. Even the lieutenant started to laugh. After a little while, the conversation continued.
LIEUTENANT: It didn't even take a minute and you two are good friends already! Are you happy now, mister Fox?
HERBIE: Oh yes, lieutenant. Obviously, this fella has a good sense of humor.
LIEUTENANT: All right then, Fox, you should now go and start investigating. Time is precious, you know.
Herbie and Albert left the building and got into a car. Albert was the driver. During the commute, they had a conversation. Herbie started.
HERBIE: I need to tell you something about myself, mister Fringe. Something about my personality.
ALBERT: I'm listening, mister Fox.
HERBIE: I have a few personal conditions during the investigations, which you should respect.
ALBERT: Which ones, for instance?
HERBIE: To start off, I'm an introvert. I keep a lot of my thought processes purely to myself. You should know that, mister Fringe.
ALBERT: Of course, mister Fox. After all, I'm not that different from you.
Herbie looked at Albert with a surprise in his eyes.
HERBIE: Believe me, mister Fringe. We are two completely different people. I'll bet my life that this is so!
After a moment of silence, Herbie continued.
HERBIE: What motivated you to detective work, mister Fringe? Were you expecting to bring some excitement into your life?”
ALBERT: I wouldn't say so, mister Fox. I was always interested in being a detective so, I decided to go for it after I graduated from the high school in Connecticut; I wanted to fulfill my dreams.
HERBIE: Your dreams? About what? Looking at the dead bodies and interrogating psychopaths?
ALBERT: I don't know what lead me here. It was just a feeling I had, which I couldn't hide.
HERBIE: Just look at that! Only a few minutes of knowing you and I know about one of your life dreams already. At least you got it fulfilled. I only hope that you won't have to face disappointment in your life.
ALBERT: Did you face it?
HERBIE: I can't really tell, mister Fringe. Have you ever seen a dead body?
ALBERT: No.
HERBIE: Well, prepare for a moment of truth then. You'll finally see what it is to be a detective. As soon as that moment appears, you'll understand what I'm talking about.
Albert remained calm.