“Mr. Andrew Gavin. Take a seat. It’s time to talk. It’s time we talk about you.”
“What the hell is going on? I didn’t do anything wrong!”
“Didn’t you?”
“I do apologize, Andrew, but we had no choice but to come for you. You left us no choice.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong!”
“I’m Detective Bishop, and my partner over there is Detective Queen. We know about last night.”
“Last night? What are you talking about?”
“Where were you last night?”
“I was at a party for a couple of hours, and then I went home.”
“How long were you at the party?”
“I already told you. A couple of hours. Why? What am I being accused of?”
“You feeling guilty? Is there something that we should know?”
“No. Now, what am I being accused of?”
“You were at a coworker’s party last night, were you not?”
“ I already told you…“
“There was a girl there. Her name was… Linda Valor.”
“Yeah. What does that have to do with me?”
“You liked her. Maybe the feelings weren’t mutual?”
“Look, last night is a blur. All I remember is going to the party, having a few drinks, and talking to her. That’s it. That’s all I remember.”
“Nothing else? You don’t remember anything else?”
“No, I don’t. Why? What does all this have to do with me?”
“All this, Andrew, has to do with murder. Don’t you remember killing her?”
“No. No! I didn’t kill her!”
“Yes, you did. You killed her!”
“I didn’t do that. I wouldn’t do that. I would never hurt her.”
“Your fingerprints are all over the scene and all over her.”
“I didn’t kill her!”
“Sit down, Andrew.”
“Why would I kill her? I liked her. There has to be another reason. Somebody is framing me!”
“Sit down. Now. You should never have joined the program.”
“Program? What program?”
“Remember that ad you answered a few weeks back? The one about changing your life? Well, you signed up like the other poor bastards, who were convicted of murder.”
“But I didn’t kill her. I remember that ad. It was requesting volunteers for a study done on the meaning of life. I thought it was a joke, but, hey, they were offering five thousand dollars to anyone willing to participate. I responded, but I never heard anything back from them.”
“Well, they tagged you. They were watching you from the minute that they received your application.”
“So, they killed her?”
“No, Andrew. They made you kill her. Don’t you remember? How did you feel when we woke you up?”
“Nausea. Dizzy. They drugged me. Why? Why kill her?”
“Maybe she didn’t feel the same way about you, and you can’t handle rejection well.”
“I would… I would never do that. You have to believe me. Please, believe me.”
“Just like everyone else. All the other ones before you said the same exact thing, and they were still found guilty. The evidence pointed right at them, and it now points to you. Let’s go.”
“Wait, Bishop. We need the last piece of evidence.”
“Last piece of evidence?”
“The murder weapon, Andrew. What did you do with it?”
“I don’t know. I don’t remember. It wasn’t me! I want a lawyer.”
“But you said you were innocent? I almost believed you.”
“I am innocent! I didn’t do this!”
“Really? Then, why are you shaking?”
“This isn’t happening. This isn’t real. This is a game, right? You guys are playing with me.”
“You wanted your life to change. I would say that this is a major change.”
“This is not what I wanted!”
“I think I know how to fix this. That way, we can just close the case on him.”
“What do you mean? What do you mean by that?”
“Calm down, Andrew.”
“Thank you, Rourke. Now, let’s get to the heart of the matter.”
“Which one did you use? Remember now?”
“Isn’t it obvious from those pictures? It was the knife.”
“So, you confess? You used the knife.”
“No. No, I didn’t.”
“Then, why did you say that? Why did you say that?”
“It sounded like a confession. I say that statement concludes this interrogation.”
“Why not the pen?”
“The pen?”
“Yes, the pen. It would be a unique way of killing someone. It’s one of those pens with a gold tip. You could certainly carve someone up with it and make them suffer longer than using a knife.”
“What’s in the box?”
“Open it and see for yourself. I’m curious to know what you put in there.”
“Me?”
“We found the box lying next to the body. It was originally covered in blood, but we cleaned it up for you. What did you put inside of it?”
“Nothing.”
“If you’re sure of that, then open it. Unless you have something to fear, or maybe it will prove your innocence.”
“Can’t you go after the people that put that ad out there? They’re behind this. I’m just a pawn.”
“That you are, and they put you in play. You took it from there, so now, open the box.”
“I’ll call the lawyer. He’s going to need one.”
“You know what. I’ll come with you.”
“Wait! That’s it! You’re just gonna leave me sitting here! You’re gonna leave me with this box?”
“Would you like to open it, or do you want to save it for trial?”
“It’s a shame. Maybe it could have cleared him of all this.”
“Wait! Wait! Wait a damn minute! I’ll open it.”
“He’s not going to open it.”
“What the hell? It is a Pawn.”
“Do you know what the meaning of life is, Andrew?”
“It’s to play the game. Congratulations.”
“What?”
“You’re the first test subject to actually open the box. You’re free to go.”
“What! What about the murder! What about the girl!”
“What about it? It never happened.”
“But what if I failed?”
“You didn’t. Just remember. The game is not over until it is in checkmate, so live your life. Don’t wait for life to come to you. We’ll send you your five thousand soon.”
“That’s it? That’s it! I’m nothing but this pawn?”
“You’re more than that, but most people… They are just pawns.”
Disorientation dragged its nails across an already ragged mind. The heart tried to find peace but battled against itself instead. Lies twisted around truth, and the interrogation remained vivid, refusing to die. A bullet was dodged, remembered as the pawn piece gripped tightly against skin. It was time to go home, time to put this nightmare in the past, but the game was far from over.
“Mr. Andrew Gavin?” The man looked like he was dragged through hell and back. “Mr. Andrew Gavin?”
“What!” He didn’t mean to snap, but he was done. And still, he held the pawn in his hand. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” The man continued to sit in the chair opposite the interrogation room. He was dressed in baggy jeans and a loose-fitting navy blue button down shirt. His sneakers were dirty, and his hair was messy. Yet, he looked content like he had found heaven and had all the time in the world at his feet. “I’m your ride home.” He moved quickly out of his seat and gingerly took the shaken man by his arm. “Shall we go?”
“I can get a cab. Thank you,” and he pulled his arm away.
“Sorry, pal. That’s not how this game is played.”
“The game is over.” He flinched as this man now towered over him. “Isn’t it?”
“No, my friend. The game never ends. Now, shall we go?” The pale man slowly nodded in response. “Good. This way,” and he gestured down the hall toward the EXIT door.
“But I won,” he stammered.
“You won a game, Andrew not the game.”
“What’s the difference?” He followed the strange man down the hall. “It’s just a stupid game. You guys are playing with my life.”
“God plays with your life. Fate. Us? We just screw with it.”
“Again, what’s the difference,” but his response was only a smirk. “Great. Just great. This is your car?”
The strange man patted his white Honda with pride. There were dents alongside it, and it looked like it went through hell and back. Yet, it was still standing, and the strange man popped into the driver-side, revving up the engine. And Andrew rode shotgun.
“She’s been through hell like you.”
“So I see. Do you know where I live?” The man shot him a look. “Of course, you do. I didn’t get your name, friend. What do I call you?”
“King. Call me, King.”
“Of course like the other two,” and he hit the back of his seat as the man fired down the road. “Take it easy. Jesus. What time is it anyway?”
“About seven in the morning. Just in time for the morning commute,” and he drove toward the bridge. “The game never ends. I hope you know that,” but Andrew didn’t respond. “Don’t worry. You’ll be home soon, and you’ll have a nice, fat check for all your troubles.”
“I don’t care about the money.”
“Sure you do.”
A red car moved into the left lane and now drove parallel to them. Without hesitation, King stepped on the gas and moved up to the car ahead of him. The red car matched his speed and continued to drive parallel to them, but King didn’t flinch. Finally, the driver in the other car hit the gas harder, cutting off the two cars, and moving back into the right lane. And King yawned in boredom.
After crossing the bridge, King stayed in the left lane. He drove ten miles over the speed limit. Cars swerved out behind him and cut him off. A few nearly clipped the front of the car, and again, he did not flinch. He merely yawned, and then a truck barreled down on them, blaring its horn. After a few moments, the driver flickered his headlights, and only then did King looked annoyed. But he refused to move, forcing the truck to swerve into the right lane, and then cutting him off as it swerved back into the left lane.
“Are you driving like that deliberately?” King made a left onto another highway. “That truck nearly hit us.”
“I had to make a left turn.” He glanced over at Andrew. “And if he had hit us, he would have been sued along with the company that he was driving for.”
A blue car drove alongside them. The driver glanced at them and then at the road. He edged closer to King’s car, hoping it would disappear, but to his disappointment, it didn’t. And he hit the gas, trying to cut them off.
“I tell you, pal. People cannot merge,” and King hit the gas, going toe to toe with blue. “Science must have been a poor subject for the majority because the same matter cannot occupy the same space,” and just as he said that, blue fired down the left lane and then cut them off. “See? He finally got it.”
“You’re crazy.”
“You ever play Chess?”
“No, and I won’t after this. Why?”
“Well, you drive, don’t you?”
“So?”
“So, you play Chess.”
“You’re crazy. Are we almost there?”
“Yes, Andrew. We’re almost there,” and King drove onto an exit ramp. “Almost there,” and he stopped at a red traffic light. “You going to call that girl?”
“What girl?”
“You know. The girl from the party?”
“That’s none of your business.”
King stopped at a STOP sign. The car behind him braked, hard. The driver waved his hands up into the air, gesturing at King, who merely shrugged. Then, he looked to his right and then to his left. Just as he went, the car behind him peeled out, nearly hitting them, and then again, braking.
“Jesus.”
“He stopped,” King replied and then turned down a street. He moved into the left lane with his blinker on. He waited at the traffic light as the cars before him were released, and the ones turning past him came close to hitting the car. He looked more bored than annoyed and smiled at the angry faces, merely shrugging in response. “I’m in my lane. How about you,” and then the green arrow flashed his way.
As King turned left, a white SUV flew down the opposite lane. He had the right light. Either he wasn’t paying attention or he didn’t give a shit, and King floored it, swerving the car around behind him. And then the white SUV braked, but King didn’t stop. He continued driving down the road with hardly a look back. “King me,” he snarled.
“You are crazy.”
“Did I make him do that? No. He made his move, and so did I.”
“So, you’re playing a game? Is that it?”
“I told you, Andrew. If you drive, then you play Chess.” Andrew just shook his head. “There are pawns, Andrew, and then there are kings.”
“So, you’re a king?”
“That’s my name, and here’s home.” He pulled up outside Andrew’s house. “Do you understand?”
“No. No, I don’t. Why don’t you explain it to me?”
“We’re all playing a game. We’re all trying to outsmart each other. Whether we are driving or working in an office together, it doesn’t matter. We are trying to win. In our mind, we need to win because if we lose like that asshole back there, then we lose it. And then we do something stupid, and then the game is over.” He popped the locks open. “You’re either a pawn, Andrew, or you’re a king. Which one is it?”
“Good-bye, King.”
“Good-bye, Andrew.”
King watched the man exit his car. He didn’t get it, but most didn’t. The realization would not sink in until they were behind the wheel, and then they would get it. He moved the gear shift from park to drive, but before he pulled away, he glanced down at Andrew’s seat. A smile crossed his lips, and he laughed. Then, he reached over and placed Andrew’s pawn onto the dashboard.
