CSI: Excolo. Episode 2.4: The Perfect Storm

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

Three weeks later. The black screen begins with the sound of a TV weather forecaster. "Heavy rainfall continues for the third day in Excolo, and water levels in the Pontarlier have risen to its highest level in ten years. The National Weather service has placed Excolo on flash flood watch. Local government is monitoring the situation. Tune your radio to NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards for up to the minute information, and stay watching EXNEWS, your source for local and national news..." Scene fades into...

The Whitechapel, early evening, Wednesday

I sit in the corner and tap my fingers against my glass of lemonade. The rain is still coming down real hard outside. I'm glad I don't live by the river. We've not had a really bad flood in Excolo since - oh, when was it? I should remember from geography at school... Since the 1890s I think. I sure hope this one don't end up like that. But of course there are better defences now against flooding. I know the town spent a whole lot of money on... levees? Hope they hold.

Guess at least the flood gives me something else to worry about apart from - My stomach clenches up when I think about that. Tez and I didn't make plans to meet tonight, and part of me hopes he decides not to come in here for a drink. I'm too scared to go across to the station and ask for him. But I do need to speak to him. Oh, this is such a mess. I don't know what Uncle Al is going to say.

2.4 Continued

[nansekam.livejournal.com]

The same early evening - the police station.

Say hello to the desk sergeant on duty.

"Feel like we should start gathering up two of every animal," I say, shaking water out of my hair. Hate wet weather. And cold weather. It's a good reason to be glad I'm out of NYC, I reckon. Excolo's always had milder winters than there. A couple of degrees makes a lot of difference in the winter. Though it's certainly not cold out there now - sidewalks are steamin with the rain and the heat. Miserable weather. I take off my raincoat and check to see the files I'm carrying haven't got soaked.

Been a good couple of weeks before the rain started, though. Syl and I are officially "in a relationship", though I'm still not sure how to introduce her. Reckon when you cross thirty "girlfriend" starts sounding pretty stupid. But I'm happy, even if that bloody cat of hers has scratched up my hands. Syl says Cat probably likes me as much as she can like anyone, given she didn't try to take a lump out of me. Minor bleeding's practically playing, apparently. So yeah, things are going well. Even told my folks, and these days Ummi's so glad to see me with any woman she's not fussed about Syl not being Muslim. Only slight problem has been that apparently there's been a rumour going round that Tez and Syl had sex, cos she turned up at work and threw his clothes onto his desk. Means I've got a few pitying looks from around the department. But that's alright. Might even help me, if the cops reckon I'm a soft touch. I know I don't have anything to worry about. Need to find Syl though and ask her if she wants to stay at mine tonight, cos this rain is ridiculous and I don't like to think of her driving back in case there's flooding down by her apartment.