Inception - Ascension Paradox, Book 1
Copyright© 2023 by L.R. Thornton
Chapter 15
“This had better be good Amy,” Daniel told her gruffly, experiencing a rare moment of irritation.
“Not quite the word, Professor. But it’s definitely worth listening to.”
Daniel suppressed a sigh, looking back longingly over his shoulder. He wanted to be in the thick of it and talk to C. A. D. I. and her creators. Instead, Amy was carrying him away from the place he most wanted to be.
He knew there had to be a good reason for it. Amy never demanded anything before.
As the saying went, “There’s a first time for everything.”
They exited the room and stood a little way off from the entrance. Amy rose up on her tiptoes, trying to peer over the heads of people taller than she. “Who are we looking for?”
She sucked in her bottom lip. “I don’t see him yet.”
“Oh! There he is!”
Amy bounced up and down, waving her arms frantically. “Ray! Over here!”
Ray? Why did that name sound familiar?
Daniel wracked his brain to no avail. Soon, his eyes caught the figure of a tall man wearing a black hoodie with a patch of a local fitness gym on its left breast.
The hoodie obscured most of his face. Daniel detected a firm jawline despite that.
“Hi Amy,” The man Amy address as ‘Ray’ said as he bent down and hugged the girl, lifting off her feet.
“Put me down, Ray!” she swatted at his shoulders. In the next moment, hugging him back.
He did as she asked. “It’s good to see you again, Amy.”
“Same here.” Amy turned to Daniel, her dark eyes wary although he didn’t understand why.
“Professor, I want to introduce you to my cousin, Ray Sanchez.”
Daniel reached out and shook the man’s hand. He saw the man had a distinct Hispanic look with angular features. Now that he thought about it, he looked familiar. Another student, perhaps? Maybe he went to the college along with Amy.
“I’m glad you chose to meet with me despite the circumstances,” Ray said as he withdrew his hand.
Daniel frowned. “I’m not sure I understand.”
“Professor, you don’t recognize him?” She blinked at him as if he’d grown a third eye.
“No.”
She sighed and then folded her arms across her chest. Her voice lowered so much so that he had to bend to hear her. “Professor, this is Officer Ramone Sanchez.”
From the expression in her eyes as well as the way Ray pulled tighter on the hoodie, Daniel had the impression he was supposed to be affected in some unfathomable way by the introduction. And why was she talking so low? Was it due to the fact that the man, whoever he was, was a member of law enforcement?
It seemed plausible. Things weren’t going so well between John Q. Public and the police force so perhaps that was the reason for her hush-hush demeanor.
Behind him, he heard the audience clap. He sighed. Why did Amy drag him out here?
“Thank you for your service, Officer Sanchez.” Maybe that’s what she wanted? An acknowledgement of some sort? He had gads of respect for law officers.
“I just go by Ray these days. I’m no longer on the force,” came the muffled reply.
Daniel glanced at the watch on his wrist. How much longer was this going to take?
“You have no idea who he is do you?”
“Am I supposed to know?”
Amy groaned and slapped her hand over her face. Then she shook her head mournfully. “Only you, Professor. This is Officer Sanchez, the officer who was a suspect in the shooting of Terrence Park.”
A muscle leapt in the man’s jaw. Daniel stared for a moment. Then the news reports he’d seen in the past came to mind. “Oh!”
Amy shook her head. “Oh, Professor Lawton, you’re one of the most brilliant men on the planet but not the most observant.”
“Only when it counts,” Daniel disputed. Now that his memory was jogged, he couldn’t help but remember the high-profile case which had rocked the city and its subsequent acquittal of this man.
In his defense, this Ray Sanchez had little resemblance to the one on trial. He’d had the good sense to alter his appearance. From what Daniel remembered. During the trial Ray Sanchez’s hair had been longer, shaggy even. Now, he’d cut it short. He’d filled out too, from that time, losing the wraith-like appearance and gaining more in solidity.
“I wanted you to hear this, Professor because you’re not going to believe it. I don’t think he would lie to me.”
Daniel’s eyebrow arched. What was going on?