Detective Selfie

Detective Selfie

Alex Bennet stood outside the oceanfront restaurant. It was early Spring. He was looking for the woman he would soon meet in person for the first time. He had pangs that this was adulterous. His wife died in a car accident three years ago. He would soon meet the woman who lost her husband 5 years ago. If they only met just this once, did it matter? What were his intentions? Did he feel still married although he was separated by death? They chatted back and forth online in the “Widows & Widowers On-Line” group. The group denied the use of photographs to avoid bias and prevent stalking. Their words connected them, and they decided it was time to meet for real. They both wondered if they were ready for a “growth” experience.

He didn’t know what to look for. Change was in the air. He felt a chill and thought it was the Spring breeze at the Oregon Coast.  He was tensely waiting for a phone call.

His cell phone startled him. “Hi Alex, it’s Emily, I’m almost there. Did you think I’d be a no-show?” sounding a little nervous herself.

“No. Not for a second. I'm by the front door. I have an idea. Tell you when I see you.”

“OK. Don’t get any weird ideas,” She said feeling better.

He said, “Me? Reserved not weird. Emily, I’m wearing a blue down jacket with a red and green tartan-style scarf around my neck.” to be reassuring.

“Oh! So, it’s like a kilt but hiked up to your neck. And this is our first date!” she teased.

“Your off-the-wall humor is great. How will I know you? You never described yourself.”  His head was swiveling to spot the unknown person out there somewhere.

“I was afraid I’d either scare you or disappoint you.” to justify matters and then added “Remember we agreed this was a NON-date. “

“But how will I know you?” he pleaded.

“Too late now! Oh well!”

Alex noticed an attractive woman putting her cell phone back into her coat pocket. She could be a model. He tried not to stare, but she caught his eye like a time he remembered decades ago. He couldn’t imagine that could be someone coming towards him, so he turned away. Minutes later she approached him from the side. He turned toward her, and they met. They stood face to face for the first time trying not to look surprised. Emily forgot Alex was reserved and hugged him. Alex responded looking a little unsteady and said “We need to commemorate this with a photo. OK?”

“You mean with another hug? Or just a little old selfie?” she teased.

“Let’s stand together and look into the camera while I capture this historic moment.” They moved away from the entrance and were on the street with the restaurant sign in the background. Alex carefully composed a documentary photo. The cell phone went  “click” and together they said “TA-DAAA”

At the table, Alex treated her as if she was the only person in the busy restaurant. Alex tried not to stare or look awkward.

”I had no idea how pretty you are, “ Alex carefully blurted out.

”Lucky for you I clean up good. I am taking a break from Spring cleaning. If you’d seen me 3 hours ago, you would have run away!”

Alex asked “How are friends and family handling our meeting? “

”I tried explaining it as a  “NON-date” kind of meeting. They rolled their eyes. Then they said, ‘It’s about time’. Oh, and of ‘course no pressure’. ”

“Me too!” Alex said after laughing. 

“I’m glad we are doing this Alex. Maybe this will quiet them down. In the worst case, we can put on appearances to satisfy their matchmaking. Meanwhile, there’s no harm.”

“We get along, so this seems right.” Alex was already thinking of more such meetings and more chances to appreciate how she looked straight at him with her green eyes sparkling.

“Yeah!  We get each other. Both losing spouses is common ground. Think there’s more?” Emily looked a little serious just then.

 “Starting over, but not like the beginning that we remember!” Alex was reminiscing.

The conversation continued until the restaurant asked them to leave so they could shut down the shift. They both brought a photo of their family that included the deceased spouse. Funny thing they thought, in no other dating situation would a couple bring photos of THE EX.

“Bye, Emily. I enjoyed this. I want to get together again. I’ll give you a call next week. I’m traveling. “

“Me too Alex. I mean, I’d like to continue this. I’ll be here, not traveling.”

Nearly two weeks went by. They agreed to meet in a park. The weather turned warm, and they went for a walk. A park bench seemed inviting. They sat down.

“Emily, are you OK?”

“Well, we need to talk.”

 “Yes, “ Alex said feeling troubled too.

“Sarah, the admin for our group got a call from a man who was in the photo you posted, and he was very angry.”

“Well, I'm looking at the photo. Wow!  I’m not sure they are recognizable. What’s his issue?” Alex asked.

“Oh Alex, he’s overreacting, I’m sure. He wants the photo taken down.” 

“I don’t think it’s necessary. He has no legal grounds. The photo was taken on public property, not inside a private space and we’re not profiting from it other than the satisfaction of reminding us of a nice time together.”  Alex took a breath and waited. And waited.

“Alex, you’re probably right. But he scared Sarah.”

“I don’t want to photoshop him out it makes the whole photo look fake. It’s not. It’s real, wonderfully real, I think. Emily, do you want me to take it down?”

Emily turned to the side making them sit back-to-back unable to see each other or their expression. “Alex, when does it end? We deserve to enjoy living. I thought I was through all the sorrow and grief. Now, some stranger demands we take down that nice photo. It felt like an important step for us both.”

A long sigh and more words came slowly. “Alex, we are like two little kids sitting back-to-back in a room filled with all the world we both once knew shattered into shards circling us.”

“You mean we are not ready for this?” Alex had trouble getting the words out. This was not supposed to be happening, he thought.

” Will we still know each other when we grow up?” Emily almost shouted! More calmly she added, “I’m so afraid this will all never stop.”

“Have a little faith Can we just enjoy the moment?”

“Alex, I  remember the phone call like it was yesterday. ‘Dead of a gunshot, caught in the middle of a drug deal gone bad’. I never got to say goodbye.  I didn’t know a person could cry that much. I scared myself almost to death one day. I made a strange noise! It was the sound of my own laughter. It had been so long.”

“Let's take this one step at a time, OK?” With her back against his, he could feel her dealing with agonizing memories.

“What should we do?” She asked almost in a whisper.

“Let's keep in touch. Something is fishy about his complaint.  We deserve to live our lives. Nothing has been normal for you or me for too long. I’ll call you tomorrow. Let's see what we both come up with.”

Emily trying to lighten up added, “You know NORMAL is only a setting for some household appliances huh?” They both smiled.

Emily’s voice was like an alarm signaling the start of the next morning. “Alex, I know you must have had a rough night. I overreacted”, Emily said as Alex tried to think clearly. “I got up early and talked to a detective at the police station.”

“ What did he say?”

“He looked at the cell phone image of the photo. He said the guy looks like someone they’re looking for. Could you meet with him?” Emily asked.

“ I’m glad you did that. I was thinking all night. What if taking the photo down helps a criminal? Would that make us accessories?”

” We’re on the same wavelength now. “ Emily responded cheerfully.

Emily what time and where does he want to meet?”

“Main downtown station and he is Inspector Wilson. Meet him at 1:00 p.m. Can you?”

“Yes. Thank you. Nice work.”

Alex arrived and was shown to Inspector Wilson’s office. It was an old office and mostly held more experienced officers. Only a few were in official police uniform.

“Glad to meet you, Alex.” Detective Wilson grabbed his hand and shook it.

Alex handed him the image file on a drive. “Here is the high-resolution image. The online media version isn’t this good.”

“Stay here. I’ll give this to our lab and see if they can enhance it and use facial recognition.” Wilson left the room quickly.

“Everything OK?” Alex asked the detective as he came back.

“Yes, it’s a great photo. It’s well-composed. You must trained. It doesn’t look amateur like most.“ Wilson was curious about Alex.

“ I was a forensic photographer for the police upstate. My job was to document mangled bodies in accidents and crime scenes. After my wife’s fatal accident, I couldn’t stand to do that job anymore.“ Alex replied with the short version.

Another officer opened the door and motioned to Wilson who left the room for a moment or two and returned with a smile on his face. “The image matches someone we are looking for. I thought the guy was protesting too much. For the rest of the world, he isn’t recognizable.  People don’t react this way unless it’s ruffled them in unexpected ways. Thank you.” Wilson had Alex escorted out of the office. 

3:00 p.m. Sarah, the group admin called Alex  

“I’m worried. There’s no answer at Emily’s place. That creep called me again last night. He threatened he could find us and hurt us unless we take the photo down and give him what he assumes is the only copy.  Could call Emily? She can be easily identified from the photo. She is hard to miss, as you know. You met her.”

Before Alex could make a call, his phone went off, ”This is Detective Wilson. We want to try something with Sarah and you two.” 

“What do you want to try? I’m looking for Emily, by the way. She is very recognizable from that photo.”

“Emily is here. She’s safe. She identified the guy from our files. We’re setting a trap. You interested?”

“Tell me more!” Alex asked eagerly.

“We will stage it at Sarah’s. You and Emily will go in through the front door for appearance's sake. Emily and Sarah will be escorted covertly out the back way. So, they will be safe. We need you to meet the suspect. The place will be surrounded.”

“Tell me when and I’ll be there.” Alex looked around his place for items he would have to grab in a hurry.

“Show up at Sarah’s place at 6:00. Things don’t start until 7:30 but you need to be briefed.  OK?

The phone rang again.

“Hi Alex, can we meet quickly? I miss seeing you.” Her words were like music to Alex.

“Me too. Meet me at the coffee shop at Fifth and Main.”

They met in the most remote corner of the shop they could find. 

“I’ve met with Sarah and the police. The suspect threatened her. He says he’ll kill everyone in the photo,” Emily said calmly.

”I started this; I want to help finish it. And I want you to be safe”, Alex noted how cool Emily was.

“We are both in danger. I’m worried. You’re the bait. I don’t want you hurt. I’m not ready to lose another person in my life!”

“Emily we are in this together. See you at 6:00 at Sarah’s,” leaving cautiously.

At 5:45 Alex arrived at Sarah’s place. She opened the door and started briefing him. ”Detective Wilson will be here soon. He will prepare you.”

“This seems intense for just one suspect ?”

Alex, “The police think they’ve located his accomplice. Your photo was a great help.”

Wilson arrived at the back door and took charge:” I want you to strip to the waist. If you have a jacket, get it. Let’s go into the dining area. “

An assistant taped a “bug” to him. Then he had him put on a heavy pull-over to help cover the device.  The assistant said ”We’re putting you in a bulletproof vest. Cover it with your jacket. The armor protects vital organs. Hope you are ok with this?”

Emily knocks at the front door and enters. Anyone watching the place are sure to recognize her and would have seen Alex enter before her. The trap is loaded.

“Hi ready for this?” Sarah asked after hugging him and taking a look at the armored version of Alex and added “You clean up good yourself!”

Shortly, Sarah is escorted out. The trap is now set with Alex and the image file as bait.

Wilson continues the briefing: Do you think you could ID the guy?” 

“My memory is sketchy, but yes,” Alex says while adjusting his gear.

Wilson replies. “Your photo puts him in the wrong place at the right time to blow his alibi for another crime. The only way you and Emily will have a life is by letting us take this guy out of circulation. He is expecting you and no one else. We won’t be far away. Give him the image drive that I’ll give to you. It’s the real thing. Don’t argue or provoke him. We will be listening.”

At 7:00 p.m. There was a knock at the back door. Alex’s phone rang at the same time. “ Hi Alex, it’s Sarah. That’s just my husband at the back door. He wants to talk to you.”

Alex opened it and a 6-foot-7 figure in full body armor with a semi-automatic rifle stepped in. It spoke ”Just to let you know we’ve got your back. We’re onto these guys.”

”Got it.” He said as the figure returned to the darkness.

It’s past dark. It’s 7:45. It’s dark except for a light by the front door lighting the entrance and a light in the living room corner. Alex is past nervous and is weary from waiting.

A knock on the front door jarred him fully awake.

 Alex shouted,” Come in.”

The suspect, Marcus, demanded,” Do you have the image?”

 “Come and get it. It’s just a dumb little selfie.”

”Blah blah... poor you. I should have killed you all when I had a chance. But you’re not worth it. We’re done here.”

Marcus went to the back door, looked around cautiously, and then joined the darkness.

It’s 8:15 pm. And Alex heard a couple of gunshots in the distance. Then quiet. It was very dark. His phone rang.

“This is Wilson. We got him. He will live.  Well done Alex. Go home. Sarah’s with your girl Emily. They’re both safe.”

Alex changed out of all the gear. He set the locks and pulled the front door shut. He was exhausted and glad to get home. Next day he left Emily a message. Later, Emily called and left a message back.

 “Let’s meet at the coffee shop. No selfies this time. Ha ha.” She sounded different.

The corner of the shop was so dark and secluded that he could barely see Emily. She looked familiar but different. What's happened? He didn’t know where to begin.

”I’ve been quiet for a reason. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I need to say so much!”

”Emily, I’m sorry if I scared you. I wasn’t trying to be a hero. My wife’s accident seemed just a random senseless death. I felt like a lowly victim of circumstances. I needed to participate actively in this, regardless of the outcome.”

”You don't know,” Emily said looking like she could burst or cry or both.

“What?” Alex wondered out loud.

”They captured Marcus. That selfie implicated him in another crime. He had an accomplice. They got him too. Do you know what that means? “

“We are safe?”

“Alex, the accomplice is the man who killed my husband. I have closure for the first time in almost 5 years. One more thing. Can you take it?”

“Try me.” Alex was apprehensive.

”Do you remember that funny question?”

”Which one?” Alex wondered aloud, his memory too full of recent events.

“‘Will we still know each other when we grow up?  I think we’ve moved beyond being just a ‘sad sack’ widows couple. We worked for a common purpose,” Emily said smiling.

“Emily, can we just move along together? For better or worse.”

” Exactly. But Alex, can we start with the ‘for better’ part first? 

“You who clean up well have great ideas!”

Emily grabbed him by the coat “Put on your tartan scarf and let’s go! And please no selfies.

And no more NON-date dates.”