Lieutenant Edward Roark watched the street from his purposefully inconspicuous automobile, a Ford, perfectly fitting for the local manufacturing pride. Across the street, Officer Graydon Davies lounged at a small café, reading the newspaper.
Detroit was still a young town, but it boomed with industry. Even the small street corner they were staking out gleamed with the blackened stain of progress. Smokestacks from the local factories loomed, reaching for the sky like a modern Babel. The country had never known such wealth before, and Roark enjoyed being a part of the machine.
Davies lit his cigarette and Roark turned the ignition on his car.
A bus arrived on the corner, leaving one man in a suit that hung too small on his muscled shoulders. He brushed his blonde hair and scanned the streets surrounding him. His eyes met Davies, who avoided his gaze. The man began to briskly walk away, but the automobile cut him off.
Davies tacked the man and shoved him into the automobile. The automobile skidded ahead.
No one else made a move.
“Peter Nolan.” Roark said to the man, driving as fast as possible.
“Roark, it’s so nice to see you again.” Nolan responded, to be met with a violent pin by Davies.
“Shut up and listen to the man.” Davies said as Nolan relaxed under his grip.
“Extortion, Fraud…” Roark continued as he drove.
“Allegedly.” Nolan continued. Davies punched him in the gut.
“And just out of the joint five years for manslaughter.”
“I was innocent.”
“You don’t listen very well, do you?” Davies boxed Nolan in the ears.
“It’s a new world, Peter.” Roark continued.
“I can see that, you’re a G-man now.” Peter smiled at Davies.
“Consider this a courtesy call, Peter. Stay on the straight and narrow, and you’ll stay on our good side. Start dabbling in your old habits, again, then, well…”
Davies cracked his knuckles. Peter held back a laugh.
“Oh God, Roark, I expected better.” Peter laughed. “Don’t you know, I did five years. I’m a new man. Rehabilitated. God-fearing. Ready to go straight.”
With that, the door opened and Peter Nolan landed on the pavement. He got up, swept a hand through his hair, and watched as the car disappeared around another corner in the city.
