Tyler Takes the Case III

The coffee shop is quiet. The air filed with aroma of warm fresh coffee, and small chatter from the small group of middle aged women. Johnson sits at a table with a man and two younger kids. The man holds a cup the steam rising up masking the tears in his eyes, the children sit coloring with crayons coco in front of them. Walking over to the counter Tyler smiles. "Coffee, two cream eight sugars."

The man behind the counter nods already pouring the drip coffee. Setting a fifty down Tyler takes the his coffee. "Two more cocoas for the kids, just bring them over in a few minutes."

The man nods hitting a button the register, Tyler already gone.

At the table Tyler smiles at the kids. "He guys, I need to steal your dad for a moment. Johnson, I put two more cocoas on my tab if they finish and want more."

Johnson nods, gesturing to the father. "This is Harold Church, he was."

Tyler waves him off. "It's fine I don't need the run down. Mr. Church join me?"

He walks to the neighboring table sitting, Harold looking around before he takes a seat with Tyler. Tyler stirs his coffee as he says directly and calmly. "So, I don't think you killed her."

Harold doesn't say anything but he looks like a weight was lifted. Tyler lifts the cup to his lips taking a sip watching him. Setting his cup down Harold wipes his eyes. "Thank you, the detectives accused me, they threatened to take my kids if I wasn't honest with them."

Tyler sets his cup down. "They are scared, your wife wasn't the first. They just don't know what is happening."

He looks Harold in the eye. "Just know you and your kids are safe. I will personally make sure of it."

He lets it sit in the air, watching Harold process it. Net chimes in his ear. "You do not know for sure he is innocent."

Tyler smiles at him. "I know.. You left the house with your children, what happened from door to leaving the neighborhood?"

Net chirps again as Harold thinks for a moment. "Educated guessing is not sound police work, but I do not have counter evidence suggesting his involvement."

Harold speaks his voice strained with pain. "I had just kissed my wife goodbye, the kids missed the bus so I was taking them to school. Quinten had just brought in the mail."

Tyler nods along taking another sip, Harold eyes starting to drip tears as he keeps going. "We left, walked to the car."

Tyler asks him. "Anyone or anything out of place?"

Harold shakes his head. "Gina across the street was doing her morning run. Um the high school bus was coming around the corner."

Tyler nods. "Anyone cars you didn't recognize, or work vehicles?"

Harold looks up. "Yea, there was a the electric truck, company truck I mean parked two doors down."

Net chirps. "Running quick check, and local utilities did have a service call to the area."

Harold rubs his head thinking. Tyler nudges slightly. "What about people, did you see anyone you didn't recognize?"

He nods, then shakes his head. "There is a public bus stop two blocks from the house, there is always people coming or going to the bus."

Tyler nods his head, catching from the conner of eye the barista bring the two cocoas over to Johnson. "Alright. That’s a good start, if you have any questions or just need to talk to someone Johnson can give you my number."

He stands up smiling at Harold. "Thank you, for the help and I am sorry you have to go through this."

Johnson walks over. "The team just called, we can take you to a park down the road or we can get you checked into a hotel."

Harold looks confused. "We can't go home?"

Johnson shakes his head. "No, not yet. They want to finish processing and clean it up for you. You have enough to deal with now clean up shouldn't be a part of that."

Tyler nods walking away. "Net, first lets be nicer to the victims. Two get me the names of everyone Harold listed."

Net chirps. "Statistically the spouse is most likely to be the killer."

Tyler rolls his eyes. "That is for single victims, not serial killers. Can you get me those names?"

Net takes a second. "Not, without breaching the company servers."

Tyler stops at his car, thinking for a few moments. "Don't, we should avoid getting in the habit of breaching systems."

He opens the car door, Nets chirp coming from the blue tooth in the car. "It would be to help catch a killer."

Tyler turns the car on before saying. "Yes, but for the greater good is a very dangerous justification. General rule of thumb don't use the same reasoning as the Nazi party."

Net wave from shifts appearing as a flattened U on the radio display. "I do not have thumbs."

Tyler glances at the radio as he puts the car in gear. "Did you make a joke?"

Net flickers as it responds. "Yes, was that incorrect?"

Tyler smiles. "It was unexpected. Can you start navigation to the utilities office I need to talk to them."

Net flickers. "You often attempt humor when avoiding uncomfortable topics, or when you are incorrect on something. Navigation started."

Tyler looks at the radio again not responding as he pulls out of the parking lot.