A horn screeched behind Rick, which snapped him back to the driver’s seat of his car and his view of the road. Rick drove forward past a greenlight as his mind finally processed where he was. He was only two right turns away from the police station and got there without further interruption.

He parked his car across the street, grabbed the box of VHS tapes and locked the doors. He carefully walked across the street, his eyes criss-crossing the road and the box. A young and lanky officer held the door for Rick and gave him a pleasant greeting.

“Detective Greenblatt told me you’d be here. My dad was a big fan of yours.”

“Well, that’s really kind. How is your father now?” Rick couldn’t help but ask.

The lanky officer led Rick inside of the station, stopping in front of the main desk where Isabelle told him to meet him.

“My dad’s alright, for a retired dementia-ridden old fart I guess,” the officer answered.

“That’s rough, I’m sorry to hear about that. Do you think he would want an autograph?” Rick asked.

“I’m not sure if he’ll remember you, but as a conversation starter for the next time I see him, sure,” the officer answered honestly.

The officer handed Rick a small notepad and pen from his blue pants pocket. Rick started to write down an iconic quote from “The Red Raven” but realized he didn’t catch a name. The officer realized that when Rick raised his head.

“Just put ‘To Edgar and Nathan.’ He would appreciate you adding my name too.”

“You’re Nathan I assume?” Rick asked.

“My dad isn’t that cruel to name me Edgar,” Nathan smiled.

Isabelle walked down from the hallway and crossed her arms when she caught up to the two of them.

“Just couldn’t help yourself, could you?” Isabelle shook her head.

“Don’t take it that way, detective. It’s for me and my dad,” Nathan defended Rick, who was speechless but understanding in Isabelle’s comment.

“I understand, but I don’t want him to be tempted to start his own Red Raven Convention in the station just because he has someone who remembers the show that isn’t in retirement. We are here for serious reasons and I won’t let him or anyone else involved in this case get distracted.”

Nathan and Rick didn’t say anything in response. Isabelle took their silence as an agreement and led them up to the hallway she came from. The hallway was a dense corridor full of doors crowding up the small space. They reached the end of the hallway at a door that was located on the right side. Isabelle unlocked the door with a key from her pocket and held it open for Rick and Nathan. The would-be interrogation room was small and painted with dark green walls. There was a table with a small, square, black television and VHS player on top.

Rick placed the box on top of the table and handed Isabelle the first tape, which contained the first episode of “The Red Raven,” which was titled “The Alphabet Murders.” Isabelle took the tape from Rick’s hand and pushed it through the VHS slot. Nathan turned the lights off as all three of them took their seats in front of the screen.

As the episode played, Rick looked over to Isabelle and smiled at her. He wanted to remind her of the days he remembered when she was a little girl. The days when she watched the show repeatedly and always told him how much she admired him as a superhero. She didn’t look back at him once. When the episode concluded, Isabelle took out the tape and placed it back into the box.

“Did you two get anything from that?”

“The murderer used alphabet blocks as weapons and went through letters A, B, and C until he was discovered by the Red Raven. Rudy Jenkins was the killer and was arrested,” Nathan summarized.

“Right, and if the murderer were to strike again and murder someone with a wooden block with the letter ‘B’ then, we would have reason to suspect that they have taken inspiration from the show,” Isabelle concluded.

“So, there is a connection.” Rick said.

“Not exactly, and until there is, your assistance is no longer needed,” Isabelle affirmed. Rick stood up and asked, “Why don’t I stay with you?”

To be continued…