Peak Oil
closely. He looked up over the badge to Alexa and studied her face. His gaze drifted to Neil. “And you?”  
    Neil shrugged. “Same.”
    Harvey motioned with his hands that he wanted proof. Neil sighed and handed him his ID.  
    Harvey nodded and punched a number into the phone on his desk. He slipped his forefinger between his collar and neck and pulled it open. “Is it hot in here or what?”  
    Neil shrugged. Alexa rubbed her arms.
    He swung the chair around, sitting with his back to them. He greeted someone and read back the badge numbers. He listened to the response as he swiveled back to face them, nodded his head, and placed the phone back on the receiver. He slid the badges back to them, leaned back into his chair with a sigh, and shook his head. “You never thought of imparting this information before you were arrested?”
    Alexa stared blankly at the man. “No one questioned our authority, they simply judged our actions.”
    He closed his eyes. His eyebrows twitched. “Do you realize that I have just arrested a member of Interpol, an organization that has political immunity and the full cooperation of the US government?” he asked, looking up at the ceiling.
    Alexa and Neil looked at each other and then up at the ceiling. White, like it had been painted yesterday.
    Harvey continued his conversation with the upper interior surface of the room. “Do you realize that I could be fired for not cooperating with you?” He now leaned forward, still not speaking to them directly.
    “Why are you in my station?” Harvey asked to no one in particular.
    Neil leaned forward. “We’re here looking for two men who went missing a couple of days ago.”
    The deputy sighed. “So open a missing persons.” He lifted his hand, palm-up, indifferently. “We’ll have it checked out.”
    Neil shook his head. “They were last seen with you, Deputy. Two French men.” He leaned back in his chair. “Bis Latorre, blonde, blue eyes, six foot five.”  
    Harvey nodded. “And the other guy?”
    “Reg Voelkner, dark hair, brown eyes, skinny, five nine.”
    The deputy crossed his arms. “Yes. I don’t remember their names, but they were taken in for the same thing as Miss Guerra over here.” He looked up at the ceiling, recalling the incident. “It was a big deal making the arrest; they knocked out three of my men before we managed to tase and arrest them.” He leaned back in his chair. It squeaked softly as he rocked back and forth. “They slept their stupor off, and I dropped them at the town limits.”
    “Entering or exiting?” Neil asked.
    “At the far end of town, on the way out, close to the suburbs.” Harvey raised his eyebrows and leaned forward. “Who were they?” he asked.
    “Interpol as well.”
    Harvey’s jaw dropped. “Damn it! There you’ve gone and made me do it again.” He flew up from his chair and paced around the office, his hands behind his back. “You want to tell me that I’ve managed to arrest three members of Interpol in a shade under three days?” He slammed the table with a flat hand. “Lord, I beg of you.”
    Harvey stared at them. “Why didn’t you come to me first?” he asked, blinking three times.
    Alexa shrugged. “We reconnaissanced the area first. Someone didn’t like some of the questions that we happened to be asking.” She folded her arms and leaned back in the chair. “We would have come to you next.”
    Harvey stopped his pacing and stood in front of the window, staring out with dazed eyes.
    Neil cast Alexa a knowing glance. She silently mouthed the words “ Oh là là ” to him.
    Harvey’s left shoulder twitched twice. He nodded as if making up his mind and turned around, looking at them intently. “I guess you have your own way of doing things.” A smile spread across his face. “It seems that my department has made an error of egregious proportions. Down here, it’s a common courtesy to greet your hosts first.”
    Neil frowned. “Your hosts?”

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