Chapter 6

Chapter 6

        Josh locked the restaurant and went outside inhaling the deep scent of an autumn night. The air was crisp yet it wasn’t cold for him to wear a jacket or a sweater, in fact spending all day in the kitchen and closed off restaurant was making him warm and the night air was making him feel fresh.

        It was an inventory day hence he being late but it was all too familiar area so he wasn’t scared of walking a few feet to the parking area where he had parked his sedan.

        He had just unlocked his car when he was frozen on his feet as he felt the cold muzzle of a gun at his nape. He felt a shiver passing through his body and it had nothing to do with the cold air. No, he felt the fear creeping in his body. It had never happened with him and no matter how brave he was, a gun is a gun.

        “Don’t move. Give me everything you have.” He heard a cold voice. The mugger put his hands over the top of his car and started patting his pockets, grabbing his wallet.

        “What the fuck… you are exiting this expensive restaurant and you don’t have any money on you.” The mugger was angry and frustrated but that was a plus point for Josh because he never bothered with cash. Why would he need to carry cash when he could pay with his cards or the mobile application?

        The key fob was snatched from his hand and his wallet was thrown back at him and for a moment Josh thought may be the mugger would go away with his car but it was a mistake.

        Reality check, being empty handed is an equal crime.

        Josh only felt a numb pain as the mugger hit his temple with the gun and left in his car. He groaned crouching down on the ground. He could see stars dancing in front of his eyes. He wasn’t worried about his car because he managed to jam his car with his mobile application and he knew his car would stop within a mile radius.

        He wanted to go home but first he had to file a report about the incident so that the police would make sure the citizens were safe to travel at any time of the day.

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        Bolt was reading a new case file that was handed to him by his seniors when someone knocked on his door. He was about to shout at being disturbed but it was Richard who entered the office.

        Bolt was shocked to see him because Richard was holding an almost unconscious Josh and brought him inside to help him sit on the chair.

        “What the fucked happened to him?” Bolt kneeled by the chair and held his face. His lips pursed to see the ugly purple mark forming at his temple and the cut was prominent.

        “Don’t know mate. I was outside about to go patrolling when I saw him stumbling inside. I brought him here because he wasn’t in any shape to answer.” Richard said in equally concerned tone.

        As far as he had observed, Josh seemed a calm and cool person who would never indulge in fights, so what happened exactly.

        “I need the complete CCTV coverage of the surroundings and bring me water and the medical kit.” Bolt asked and turned to Josh as Richard went outside in a hurry.

        “Josh, can you hear me?” He cupped his cheeks, slightly shaking him.

        “Yeah… I… uh… where I am? Why am I in the police station? Am I arrested?” Josh was speaking incoherent and Bolt was confused for a while.

        “Look at me. Josh. What happened tell me?” Bolt knew the hit to the temple often ended in nausea and dizziness. So he knew Josh was under the influence of the attack.

        Richard entered the office again with Martin in tow. He pushed Bolt aside and cleaned the wound and applied antiseptic on it. Josh hissed at the liquid slightly burned. He gave Josh painkillers and antibiotic and asked Bolt to wait for a moment.

        Bolt helped Josh to lie down on the couch placed in his office to wait until the medicine kick in. He was anxiously waiting to know what happened and he knew it would take some time to trace the security cams or for Josh to regain his consciousness fully.

        He opened his file again and started reading it again when he heard Josh groaning and trying to sit up.

        “Hey, hey, relax. Slow down.” He helped Josh sit up straight and handed him a glass of water.

        Josh almost drained half the bottle when he finally sighed taking a deep breath.

        “How are you feeling now?” Bolt asked in a worried tone.

        “I am feeling like my head is pounding.” Josh said in a tired tone. He touched the bandage on his temple and turned to Bolt. “How bad it is?”

        “Well, ugly purple with cuts. It will take time. You need to be careful because it may cause you nauseated and dizzy. Though we can wait, but can you explain what exactly happened?” Bolt asked in a serious tone.

        Josh took another sip and leaned on the couch comfortably. He managed to tell him everything from locking the restaurant and stumbling upon Richard.

        Bolt felt a rage in his body. How he wanted to kill that mugger with his bare hands and he knew he would catch him soon.

        “And what about your car?” Bolt asked him.

        “Oh that. I had managed to jam it. I have it on my mobile app. So I am sure your officers would find it not far away from the restaurant. I actually came here to file a complaint so that the police can do a survey.

        I mean it never happened before, but if not taken care of, it can happen to anyone and they might suffer huge loss.” Josh finished in a tired tone and Bolt was even more impressed if there was any limit left.

        “I think I should call for cab and go home. Would you please ask your officers to bring my car home?” Josh tried to stand but his body swayed and he could have fallen down if Bolt had not caught him.

        “Your car will reach you safe and sound but let me drop you at home. You are in no condition to go alone.” Bolt grabbed his keys to his cruise leaving no space for Josh to argue. And honestly Josh wasn’t in a condition to argue anyway.

        The distance to his place wasn’t long and it was covered in a comfortable silence with occasional questions from Bolt.

        “Are you hungry? Did you eat anything?” He asked Josh as he parked his cruise in front of an apartment complex. “And what floor do you live in?”

        “Well, I am not hungry. It was inventory day so I had been busy with Pete and we had dinner before he left. And I am at 24th floor.” Josh pointed to the topmost penthouse.

        Bolt was impressed. Josh was wealthy yet he was so down to earth. He had no attitude and was never rude to his customers.

        “Okay, let me take you to your place.” Bolt went outside and held his door open too but this time Josh politely refused.

        “I am fine now Bolt. Thanks to the treatment you have given. This building is secure and I will sleep now.” Josh said with a smile. Though his head was still throbbing like a bitch but he wasn’t ready to let someone in his sanctuary.

        Bolt was reluctant to leave him alone, but this was something he couldn’t force upon him. Josh was a grown ass man and surely he knew how to handle himself.

        “Okay. I will leave you to it, but promise to call me in case you need something.” Bolt asked him with concern and Josh nodded, if that would put Bolt to ease.

        Bolt was about to enter his office when he received the call from Tony that they had the security cams paused at the timeline given by Josh.

        He rushed inside the security room and Tony rewind the time stamp. His blood boiled to see Josh helpless and being attacked. The mugger had no face mask on so he ordered Tony to run the face check while he turned towards Jake who handed him the keys to Josh’s car as they had towed it to the station.

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        Josh woke up slightly disoriented. He rubbed his eyes thinking about why his head was throbbing and just then he remembered everything from the last night.

        He was mugged, he reached the station and then Bolt came to drop him off and he was such a pathetic host that he didn’t invite him over a cup of coffee.

        He took a tentative step towards the bathroom and managed to hold the ground. A bath felt good and he was feeling better than before. He thought about texting Bolt but thanking over a message didn’t sound good so he did what he was best at.

        He opened his fridge and grabbed the items he needed to prepare a yummy breakfast. It didn’t take him long to pull Mac and cheese, with chicken rolls, French toasts with fruits and bacon strips.

        He rubbed his hands in pure delight as he looked at the Tupperware filled with yummy food and a thermos full of coffee. He rushed to change into clean clothes and popped a couple of pain killers with juice.

        He had just stepped out of his apartment complex when he slapped his forehead. How stupid could he be? It was Sunday morning and it might be Bolt’s day off. He was sad and was about to go back to his apartment because if it was Bolt’s day off, he would be resting at his place and how would Josh send him the breakfast.

        “What happened handsome, need help?” He quickly turned to the very familiar voice and his lips stretched into a smile to see Bolt standing by his cruise in his full uniform and Josh’s car was parked behind.

        “Hey... good morning. I was just coming to the police station.” Josh walked towards Bolt who helped unloading few boxes on the bonnet of his car.

        “You were going to the police station? Why? Did you forget something last night?” Bolt asked raising his eyebrows as he handed the key fob to Josh.

        “Oh. Thank you so much for bringing my car back. And no I didn’t forget anything last night. I just wanted to say thank you to you guys.” Josh said with a little blush.

        “Thank us? I don’t understand.” Bolt was genuinely confused.

        “Well, you guys helped me last night. Bandaged me. Gave me medicine and then you came to drop me at my place and I didn’t invite you in. I wasn’t at the right state of mind so when I woke up I thought to treat you guys in my style. Hence my visit to the station.” Josh explained rubbing the back of his neck in nervousness.

        “That’s so thoughtful of you. But you were looking sad. Why was that?” Bolt was indeed observant.

        “Actually I didn’t realize it was Sunday and I didn’t know if it was your day off or not. And I thought to call you but rejected the idea because if it was your day off, you must be resting at your place. So I was thinking to go back home and curse myself.” Josh said in a simple tone. Bolt looked at him and laughed out loud. Josh was indeed a gem.

        “Oh my god Josh. I don’t know how to say how grateful I am. You are so considerate and so pure. Well, no it isn’t my day off. And I was actually going to the station. I came here to talk to you about last night, but if you are heading to the station, come with me.

        We can surely begin our day with your cooking.” Bolt winked, making Josh chuckle too. He was about to go to his car when Bolt stopped him.

        “Ride with me. I will drop you back home.” Bolt said and Josh thought for a while before accepting his offer.

        As Josh had planned, the food was enough for the team and they all appreciated the effort he put into preparing the breakfast for them.

        They all filled their cups with coffee when Bolt turned towards Josh.

        “How’s your head?”

        “Oh, it’s better. I took painkillers.” Josh touched his temple.    

        “That’s great. How about we let Martin check the wound again and apply the antiseptic cream and then we can talk about it.” Bolt suggested and Josh shrugged his shoulder.

        It took ten minutes as Martin cleaned the wound and applied cream again. He advised Josh to take antibiotics too to keep it infection free.

        “So, we traced the mugger last night after you left. It’s a boy around twenty years. Nothing much on his criminal record, but he had been to jail a few times. We have him under custody if you want to talk to him. He will be taken to the court room tomorrow and they will decide his punishment.

        You will be required to be there also, as they will take your statement. So that’s what happened.” Bolt summarized it to Josh who was in deep thoughts.

        “What are you thinking?” Bolt asked him softly.

        “Hmm… nothing as such. Tell me the time in the morning and I will be there.” He said in a thoughtful tone and Bolt knew Josh was up to something. He just had to wait until tomorrow.

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Tabby