Eden's threat

"My tea's gone cold and I am wondering why,
I got out of bed at all.
The mornings' cloud up my windows
And I can't see at all"

"Hold on Jason. That's not how you sing it." Ted cried just so his voice can be heard over Eminem's Stan blaring through Jason's car record player.

After the coroner left, Jason returned to his car. He's had enough of the brainstorming. First, he hasn't had his breakfast. Second, he needs to rest. His thoughts have gone wide and narrow. He can't seem to place his mind on one thing. If he thought of one thing, some other facts come out just to oust that one out of his head. It's like he is having a debate where he creates facts out of his head just to convince himself, and to alienate his fears.

"Could these be works of aliens?" He asked himself

"Of course not, aliens aren't real. I mean come on. Science says they are light years away from us right?" He said.

"Oh, I get it. Or could those men be animals that turn humans after fighting? Then the boy is weaker?" He created another scenario

"How is that even possible? That boy is just a regular school student." He answered himself.

"How about it's some sort of military weapon? I mean those guys do things and they alienate us, the police from it. They are a crazy lot. Or could it be some supernatural phenomenon like witchcraft or Magic? Those things they show in movies?"

But every possible scenario he thought of, he disproved himself. It was exhausting and he needed to rest. He called on Ted and Mary to join him.

"Oh! Mr. Stan, how do I sing it? Isn't it the same lip-syncing we are doing?." Jason asked with his eyes upfront. He doesn't trust anyone with his car. Maybe in the future, he would trust someone with his other cars, but not this one. It's not just a car to him. It has a painful memory to it.

"No! I am lip-syncing and you are just murmuring. That's what you are doing. There is no other word for it." Ted explained.

"I know the words man," Jason argued

"If you do, why don't you sing the next lines" Ted offered him. He made a mocking face.

"I don't behave to prove myself to you. First, you are under my division, whatever I say is true" Jason said, still not looking at Ted nor Mary who at the back seat.

" And what if I don't know the words, it's just some music," he said

"No! It's not just some music" Ted retorted. "This is one of Eminem's masterpieces"

"So? It doesn't matter" Jason replied.

"Even Mary knows Eminem is amazing," Ted said expecting a comment from Mary, but he got none. He looks a bit disappointed.

Jason looked at the rear mirror to see Mary. He saw her with a frown. The same frown he saw her with the first day he talked to her.

"Well, according to science, it takes more muscles to frown than to smile." He said to her on her counter the day he came to get something from her. To him, she has always been that kind of person you know. You see but really have no emotions about. Those kinds of people that you don't think of, you will feel sad if they die or really happy if they are successful.
The only emotions you will show when they die or do something good are just an average congratulatory or condolences. No special emotions.
"Not according to modern science. It takes more to smile." She replied him now smiling

"Oh my God! Wow... I'm… I am lost for words. Anyways, I am Jason" he introduced himself

"I am Mary. Mary Stewart, Detective Jason Berly" she said

"Stop it. You will make me feel like some sort of a celebrity" he pleaded. "But why were you wearing a frown on this beautiful face?"

"It's nothing much Sir. I have just had a really stressful day." She replied.

On that particular day, he had made her smile with his self-acclaimed wittiness. But today, his thoughts are not well processed to create one to make her laugh.

"Mary! What's happening? You are wearing a frown just like you are wearing your wig." He said and smiled, but she looked away.

"As I was saying, Eminem and Shakespeare are one of the two artists I know, to coin a new English word," Ted said and no one replied.

He didn't know everyone had gone past the issue of Eminem being one of the greatest rappers. Neither is anyone interested in names Shakespeare created.
Jason was worried. He wondered why Mary was in such a foul mood. If memory was to serve him right, she had her period just last week. So she can't be going through mood swings again this week.
Or has he done anything wrong?

"Oh right! I remember" he thought to himself. She had wanted him to keep their relationship a secret. They have been dating for the past four months and by mistake or was it intentionally, he let their relationship status slip to Ted.

"Well, whatever it is. We will discuss it" Ted was still arguing with no one. He doesn't know when to stop. After a minute, he stopped the music and stopped talking. Then, silence crept in.

That kind of silence that you don't know how to break or what words to break. The silence in their situation is the silence between lovers. And this kind of silence between lovers is that which is caused because of the presence of a third party. Yes! Ted was unwanted.

Mary was boiling. She was angry at Jason. First, he dared to tell Ted of their relationship and while they were with the coroner, he screamed at her.

That he screamed wasn't the problem. It's normal. But her insecurities rose. The scream she got from him felt strange. It had a tone of strangeness.

"If we ever have issues, is this how he is going to sound to me? Have a tone like a stranger? Treat me like I was non-existent?" These were just one of the many questions rising in her head. But you can't blame her. She's had pasts. Everyone has had pasts.
Different sorts of past. Everyone has lost someone to either death or well to another person's relationship. And she had healed from the latter. It won't be fun having her man creating fears in her. She needed assurance from her man. So yes! Her feelings weren't anger.

The silence has grown into two minutes. A two minutes silence wouldn't be bad on a normal day, but with everyone in the car knowing how angry each other was, the awkwardness rose.

"If no one talks for the next one minute, I will have to talk," Jason told himself.

"I knew if I wasn't here, they probably would be having their love quarrel. I think I am hindering them. I wish I could tell Jeff to let me get down. But he is an idiot" Ted lamented

"God! Can Ted just read the room and get off this car?" Mary prayed.

Brrrrrrr!
"Any unit in the area of Dendeke Avenue, this is unit Baker-5. Requesting for backup at Eden's Treat.”

"Thank God!" Jason said in his head. He picked up his two-way radio on his cardboard

"Unit Baker 5, this is Unit Den -21. Will be with you in about a minute" how convenient. He was heading to the same place to grab his breakfast, so he could go to the police station. So he would have to kill two birds with a stone.

He hurried more and switched on his siren. Approaching Eden's threat, he saw three other police cars parked before it. He rushed to park in order, so their cars could serve as a shield for them. He was pretty much sure if it ever gets to the point where shots were to be exchanged. He would move away from his car, so no bullet would touch his car. In fact, he will be moving away from the already present police officers.

"What's the situation?" He asked to move close to the police officer in charge.

"Detective! It's a robbery scene and now they are holding hostage. They said they want to have a negotiation" the officer said

"And?" Jason asked. He put his hand in his pocket to bring out his cigarette, but Mary's presence advised him not to.

"We already called the station. Said they would get back to us," the officer said.

"What's your name, officer?" Jason asked.

"Henry. Henry Adeotun"

"And you?" Jason asked, pointing to another officer.

"Karl Rodriguez"

"And you, ma'am?"

"Kenny Anthony"

"Good! What about you sir?" He asked another officer. Everyone around looked at him annoyingly.

"A minute Jason?" Ted called him and dragged him away

"What?" Jason asked

"What are you doing? There is a fucking robbery going on in there and you are asking of names?" Ted asked him whispering.

"Just watch me," Jason replied. By now, two more cars have arrived and he knew he can't ask names anymore.

"Well, let's create a line. Spectators would flood in soon. I have been trying my best to avoid messing with the media boys." He said.

"And officer… Henry, right?" Jason asked. The officer nodded in reply.

"Now! This is Nigeria. I am modeling myself after American police. And you know one thing they don't do? They don't negotiate with criminals' ' Jason said. He looked around and saw eyes of disapproval.