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Chapter 2 – An Orphan Child(2)

'I think I'm going mad because of the weather", he mumbled. 'That must be!"

Officer Gangsley looked at the other two officers who almost ran in front of him and had no intention to look back, so he shook head as if he wanted to let go a disturbing thought and hurried up to catch up with them.

He looked once more behind in the dark to be sure no one passed by him and continued walking with the other two. In order to calm down, he shifted thoughts to the heat and the cigars waiting for him in the office he left for some time.

The darkness so deep, luckily for the officers, was lightened up here and there by the glow of some lamps, surviving the tempest and the bitter weather out there. At any rate, the lamps could go out at any time, like other dozen broken lamps on the side roads leading to the main street. These roads were so inky that they seemed to show them to the end of the world.

Taking advantage of those small sources of light the officers tried to read on the signposts the names of the streets they were on. Though, this wasn't easy at all because hardly anyone could see at a distance of more than a yard, two in front of him because of the heavy rain. And for this reason, until they could read the text on the panels, they managed to absorb more and more cold and unwanted water, to their despair.

Around such a light one could see that Mr. Gangsley was as tall as a tree, a young poplar to be more precise. He had a moustache and handsome sideburns usually neat, but now they formed the background needed for the mini rain-waterfalls flowing from his cap.

In his daily life he was considered for sure a funny and charismatic guy. Even when no one saw anything exciting, he could make a little joke, taking the best of an unpleasant job.

'We can't stop, Jones W. Carpenter. We can't drink coffee and smoke a pipe, because I didn't take any with me. Maybe next time, I'll take both. Per contra, now let's move more airily. We almost got there."

Gangsley Taylor's sober, firm voice somewhat revived Jones, so the officer regained his strength to go on with the same efficiency, along with the other two fellows in misery.

The officers looked for the house at number 3, on one of the most insignificant and unknown streets, Moon Street, a street down which neither of them had ever walked before. Someone else would probably look for it in the morning, waiting for daylight to come and maybe with a little luck the bothering rain to stop.

In whatever way, not Gangsley Taylor. As he got that desperate call from a Mrs. Stone, who said she heard people yelling and screaming in the apartment above her home, he and his aides headed to the address mentioned.

Another conflict between spouses that I have to calm down. The third one I go to this week. You'd say I'm a social worker for family conflicts. And this weather ..., Officer Gangsley complained to himself, because he had no one else to complain to.

Even though he could stay at the warm headquarters with his cigars, he decided to leave with the other two without saying anything. When he took the oath to protect anyone in need, he didn't set the condition to be there only when he liked it, or when it was clear and warm outside. No, the condition was: whenever needed.

And anyone would agree with him - who could live thinking that he could rescue someone in a difficult situation, but he decided not to do it? Any situation, even trivial at first, could eventually degenerate remarkably, so Mr. Gangsley decided to do everything in his power to save that misunderstanding between spouses.

Not only once had he saved a man's life, arrived in time where his presence was necessary. And on top of that, these two - he pointed to the two officers – can't find their way when the sky is clear, map in their hand, not to mention this kind of weather, thought the experienced Scotland Yard officer, Gangsley Taylor.

Suddenly, Officer Jones began to express anger and his thoughts moved lips surrounded by beard and moustache, in the rhythm of cold drops fallen from the clouds, colour of darkness.

'I don't get the point of these people who, although they hardly manage to support their families, always find money to buy liquor that takes their minds. Then they can't help blowing off steam on each other. I feel like ..."

But he stopped. He looked confused left and right, then questioningly raised his narrow shoulders, as he did almost every time they went on a mission, trying to tell the others they were a little lost.

Officer Gangsley, with his calm nature, never discouraged, restored hope to the other two:

'We turn right at the first crossroads. We're close. My senses don't deceive me."

Mr. Gangsley's senses were based in fact on the information he got from Mrs. Stone, who carefully told him that to get to the house where the two spouses argued, it was necessary to take a turning to the right in Sun Street, at the junction of Sun Street and Constellation Street. When they reached the end of the former street they definitely found Moon Street. And they could soon arrive to the house in question.

'So you'll be quickly here," said Mrs. Stone. And she also told them to hurry.

The discussion and indications from police station callers like talkative Mrs. Stone's encouraged Mr. Gangsley Taylor to boast with fine smell and sight like a feline's.

But even so bragger at times, Officer Gangsley always managed to show the two disoriented guys the way. He was sometimes surprised himself about his ability.

Who knows, maybe I really have some qualities of a feline, he giggled whenever everything went well.

After all today, if these skills really existed, they were deeply lost somewhere in Mr. Gangsley's persona. They didn't help him too much, because he didn't notice that curious apparition whom they overcame running and who was now at about fifteen feet away from them.

And that dubious shadow that seemed to be man, came now unobserved behind them, taking advantage of the dullness when no one could notice him.

Even if something urged Gangsley Taylor to stop from time to time to look back, as he still felt there was a presence behind them, he quickly came to his senses and continued his journey without doing that. He had no time for nonsense thinking they're chased by ghosts or other baffling, evil creatures.

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