Free Battle Road by Frank Gerry Page B

“If there aren't any questions at this point, lets head over to the next interrogation room.” He stood up, motioning his officers to follow. Before leaving he turned on the microphone once again, “Detective, I'll be over in interrogation room seven. If you learn of anything important contact me immediately.” The Senior Detective turned to face the mirror. “Yes Sir, understood.”
    While the officers were leaving the command room, the junior male Detective finished spraying the prisoner with a water. The female Detective, having already checked the charge levels on the pain sticks, handed them out. The three detectives paced once again in front of the subject. “I think we're gonna have a lot of fun here tonight,” the Senior Detective said with a smile. A bit of saliva dripped from the left corner of his mouth.

ELEVEN
     
    Dylan had spent the past forty five minutes hanging out in the kitchen talking with David Whitney and a host of other characters. The kitchen was getting a little too crowded when Joanne walked in and spotted her prey. “Dylan, Dylan, what are you doing in here all night? I've got a friend I'd like you to meet.” He didn't have much of a say in the matter. He was literally dragged by the arm out of the room. “I'll see you later, dude,” David managed to say before his new friend was gone from sight.
    Looking over the buffet spread across the dining room table, stood an attractive Asian woman, no more than five feet three inches tall, with long straight jet black hair. “Tien this is my friend Dylan,” Joanne said, doing her best trying to play the part of matchmaker without being too overly serious about it. “Dylan this is Tien.”
    “ Hi,” Tien said a little nervously. She offered her hand to Dylan. “It's nice to meet you, Tien.” Dylan said, shaking her hand gently. “I have to go check on the …... well, I have to check on something. I'll talk to you two kids later,” Joanne said. Then hurried back to the kitchen.
    The two strangers looked uneasily at one other for a moment. They each let out a friendly laugh breaking the tension. Dylan spoke first, “This is awkward. I didn't know Joanne was going to march me right up to you like that.”
    “Well, if she hadn't how was I going to meet you? You've been hiding in the kitchen all night,” Tien said with a smile on her face.
    She's interested in me, the thought raced across his mind.
    “ I'm not really all that much of a party type of guy.” Dylan looked down at the floor for a second, a little embarrassed. What the hell , he thought. He hadn't been shy around women since  High School.
    “ You mean like your friend over there.” Tien pointed over to Brooks who was sitting next to Marla in the middle of a group of people in the living room. At just that moment Brooks moved his arm around Marla's waist. Tien glanced back at Dylan with a sarcastic smile. “Your friend seems to be a party type of guy.”
    A woman Dylan had met earlier in the kitchen, he thought her name was Julie or Julia, was handing out beers to people in the living room. Brooks took one with his free hand. Marla opened it for him.
    “Well, he's my friend. But I'm not anything like him,” Dylan said, continuing to look in the direction of Brooksie. Tien turned to face Dylan. “I get it. Marla over there is my roommate. And I'm nothing like her,” she said.
    Dylan turned to give her his full attention. “That's funny how we both have friends who are a little wild. That's something we have in common.”
    “Yeah, that's true.”
    “ Can I get you something to drink, a beer, a glass of wine?” Dylan asked, noticing Tien didn't have a drink in her hand. “No thank you. I don't drink alcohol. And I'll get myself a soda in a little while. But thanks for asking,” she said.
    “ No wonder I didn't see you in the kitchen earlier.”
    “ Yup, no need for me to hit the bar.”
    A few awkward seconds passed before Dylan could think of what to say. “So,