Midnight Sun by Basil Sands Read Free Book Online Page B

camera , raising his fingers to his eyes and wiping away the all-too-real tears that continued to rise. Normally in a situation like this, he would have acted a part very similar to what he was doing right now, but the fact that he was unable to control this flood of emotion angered him.
    “ Well, there ’ s nothing we can do here, ” he said. “ I ’ ll go back to the car. ”
    As Kharzai walked away, Farrah suddenly realized the camera was pointed at him. The cameraman gave a signal, and the lady reporter started talking. As the camera panned the scene of the accident Farrah discreetly repositioned, cursing himself for not getting out of its direct view quicker.
    “ I will need to see your ID. ” Lonnie motioned towards Kharzai before he got far. “Y ours and those other two men as well. ”
    “ I really don ’ t know anything more about this unfortunate situation, ” Farris started.
    “ Since your friends entered the accident scene and touched what is potentially evidence in criminal investigation, I must insist, ” she said.
    “ Oh, well, we certainly don ’ t want any trouble in that regard, Trooper, ” Farris replied.
    He produced his wallet and removed a driver ’ s license. He called out to the other two men in a language that, judging by her expression, the pregnant trooper did not understand. She took his card and waved over one of the police officers, who made his way through the mess. The other two men approached, fishing out their ID cards as they walked. When they drew close, Lonnie caught a whiff of body odor that smelled like vinegar and stale bread.
    “ United Kingdom, ” Lonnie said, looking at the pink credit card-sized license Farrah had handed her. “ Are you visiting? ”
    “ I'm here for a few months. I work for the oil industry. ”
    “ Who? ”
    “ I beg your pardon? ”
    “ Who do you work for? ”
    “ A contractor who works for multiple oil companies. ”
    “ What is your company ’ s name? ”
    “ I do not wish to involve them in any trouble. ”
    “ I understand that, ” Lonnie said. “But it may be necessary to contact you later as a witness, and since you are not from here, we will need a local contact. ”
    “ I work for Tech-Cor. I have a company mobile phone, ” he replied. “ I will be within reach. ”
    The officer approached them. He looked young, probably less than a year from the academy.
    “ Yes, m a ’ am? What can I do for you? ”
    “ I ’ m Trooper Lieutenant Lonnie Johnson, from Fairbanks. I was at the wedding and called in the accident. Mr. Farrah, ” she pointed to him, “ and these other men claim they witnessed the driver of the pickup going at considerably high speed just prior to the accident. Here’s his ID. ”
    The officer took it and wrote information from the card onto a notepad, then asked for the man ’ s contact phone. Farrah gave him a number, but not his real one. The officer held out his hand to the cousins and took their cards. One had an Oregon license, and the other had only an Immigration and Naturalization Service Green Card.
    “ Do you speak English? ” he asked the two men.
    “ I do, ” said Leka with a heavy accent. “ Cousin Kreshnik not speak English. He come from old country not far ago. We come with Steven for job. ”
    “ Okay, ” said the officer. “ In the event we need to get hold of you, what is your number? ”
    “ We sharing Steven ’ s mobile, ” Leka said.
    “ I see. ” T he officer noted that on his pad. “ Okay, you too.” He gestured to Kharzai.
    The fuzzy-haired man, still keeping his back to the camera, patted his trouser pockets, his breast pocket, and then felt his pants pockets again.
    “ Ruh, roh, ” he said with an innocent grin. “L ooks like I left my wallet behind. Sorry, officer. ”
    “ What is your name, then? ”
    “ Samuel McGee, ” Kharzai replied.
    ***
    Lonnie watched the three men walk back to the Audi. She turned to the officer beside her. “ Give me an