Detective John Christener's day had started off fairly normal for a precinct towards the ass end of New York, the normal reports of pickpockets, breaking and entering and theft piled high on his desk. Though one of the reports had been set aside, obviously intending to be looked at first.
Sighing and preparing himself for another day, and silently praying for something new and interesting he picked up the report. Preparing to leaf through it and offload it to one of the beat cops to follow up on.
Yet he focused on a section of the report, it catching his eye, it was starting like a stock standard assault. Yet by the end he was wondering if someone had been smoking something as the final section recording the victim's statement, which mentioned a blur moving at speeds exceeding human limits was surely made up.
The statement became even more fanciful as by all accounts, a figure removed her assailant leaving a gust of wind behind. Then when she noticed the man he disappeared in an instant, clearly the shock and adrenalin got to her.
In the dark and late at night, not to mention after a night shift and being assaulted, the mind would clearly make things up to try and explain the escape from this kind of situation. Tiredness, drugs, intoxication, there were numerous explanations to what the victim could have seen.
Thinking he had gotten the situation sorted out John put the file in a tray marked 'Follow Up – Low Priority'. Putting it to the back of his mind he turned to the pile of files waiting for his attention and after filling his mug with coffee dived straight in.
Nothing else jumped out from those on his desk and it seemed that his prayers went unanswered, though he had his hopes up after that first file. The next few hours passed in boring monotony; he had done his best to get through to his lunch break. Locking his computer, he made his way down to the sandwich shop a block away to pick up his usual.
Crossing the street his mind somehow made it's way back to the report about the assault and the fictitious figure that saved the lady. He made a note to follow up with the beat cop that followed up with the victim and clarify her statement.
It was while he was lost in these thoughts that John didn't notice the delivery truck turning onto the same street, the driver lost in his paperwork tracking the receivers he had to go. Trying to find the right spot he didn't notice the Police Detective walk out into the street.
John was broken out of his stupor by the truck engine and the shouts from the precinct entrance behind him. Staring at the noise he noticed the truck baring down on him and eyes wide open he froze. Many years on the force and faced with his mortality his brain shut down, the only thing running through was an incoherent scream that he couldn't even vocalise.
The truck driver also noticed the noise and looking up saw the figure stopped in the middle of the street. In a similar state the driver froze and gripping the steering wheel in shock he saw the distance shrink. Closing his eyes at the last moment he waited for the impact and subsequent loss of control….. yet there was nothing.
John could only watch as the truck got ever closer and unable to close his eyes at his final moment saw the vehicle grill inches away.... Until it wasn't. The net moment he was on the sidewalk staring at the truck barrel down the street, screeching to a halt 20 metres away.
Looking around in confusion John saw other cops that had been out the front run towards the vehicle, obviously not seeing he was out of harms way and wanting to gauge his situation. Or at least that was what he could get from their yells and calls for him.
In shock from the events he was stationary for a moment until he had processed just what had happened. Though that was hard as all he had was the change in perspective and brief vertigo. Coming out of his daze he moved towards the truck to assess the condition of the driver.
Hearing his approach some of the cops turned around and their eyes opened wide seeing his condition, expecting some kind of horrific injury and he didn't have a scratch on him.
"Uh John, how on earth are you that fine? We all thought that truck had your number", the closest cop asked still wide eyed.
"I don't know what to tell you Sam, one moment I was conducting a close up inspection of the truck's grill and the next thing I know, I was standing on the sidewalk seeing you all run around like headless chickens." John shook his head as he relayed his perspective, still unsure of what to believe. "I'll tell you what though, I would be very interested in checking out the precinct CCTV".
Turning to the precinct he turned his head to Sam, "can I leave you to get his report?" John asked Sam who was still looking after him as he walked away.
"Yeah, sure thing man, glad you're ok, definitely taking you for a beer after work, wanna try and get some of that luck, not every day you brush so close to death", chuckling at his own joke Sam turned back to the truck and moved to the driver's door.
John headed back into the precinct, his Lunch soon forgotten. As he made his way into the building he got a few looks as the officers and staff inside were looking towards the entrance. The screeching of the trucks brakes much have caught their attention, he knew that any change in the daily routine would be preferable among all of his colleagues.
Needing to check out the CCTV John had to get sign off by the Captain, any access to the security system not pre-approved had to be assessed and granted permission. Knocking on the door he waited for confirmation of entry, moments later he heard the grunt that signaled the captain's approval. Opening the door John stepped up to the desk and looked down at his Captain sitting behind the desk.
Captain Lebowski was an old-fashioned cop, he had been patrolling the streets for decades and it showed in how he carried himself. His presence was like a coiled spring, constantly ready for action and with a frame built like a bull the officers at the precinct knew to get out of his way when he got going.
You would think that he would fall back on his physical capabilities to sort situations out, but that was so far from the truth. Beneath the frame that would put body builders to shame rested a keen intellect, nothing escaped his eyes and his brain made connections that seemed impossible yet always panned out.
It was to this man the John was standing in front of and knowing he wouldn't get anything else out of the man he spoke up.
"Sir I need access to the exterior CCTV cameras position on the precinct entrance." John stated calmly and succinctly.
The Captain looked up and peering deep into his eyes, seemingly laying his soul bare, "explain".
"Sir, when I exited the precinct on my lunch break I was crossing the street and got lost in thought about an earlier file that crossed my desk, halfway across the street I froze as a truck I had not noticed was baring down on me. Momentarily before I was hit and severely injured I found myself on the sidewalk unharmed. It happened in an instance and I have no recollection how it happened." John stated calmly and without fluff, the captain disliked unnecessary conversation.
For an instant he saw something flash across the captain's face after he reported the situation, it was gone before he could register and without a word he stood up. The captain's frame towered over him and he marched out of the office with a gruff "follow" being the only acknowledgement from the man.
John followed the captain to the security room and entering behind the broad frame he saw the camera operator glance their way, upon seeing the figure enter he stood up to greet the captain.
"Sir, how can I help you?" the operator stood facing the two of them.
Lebowski signaled towards John and stepped off to the side to make way for him to move forward.
"I need to see the record of the CCTV placed over the entrance of the precinct, we had a situation and I need to ascertain the unknown factors involved. It occurred roughly 15 minutes ago to the right of the entrance."
The operator turned back to the screens and deftly manipulating the controls he brought up the incident. John watched closely as he walked into the street without looking, as he was partly across the street you could just see in the corner a truck turn onto the same street.
The driver was distracted looking at some papers in his lap and didn't see John walking across the street, you could see the moment people noticed and then both John and the driver realise the situation.
They both froze and you could see what was bout to happen, the operator looked back towards John and if you looked you would see him confused how he was standing next to him due to the incident on the screen.
Though John didn't notice as he was staring intently at the screen, watching the moment the truck was about to hit his body. Then there was nothing, the truck continued on and screeched to a halt further down the street. You could see John standing on the sidewalk frozen in the same position he had on the street.
"Go back, can you slow it down just before the impact?" John asked the operator.
Scratching his neck the man manipulated the controls, "yeah I can, it is limited though as the cameras out front are mainly for recording faces as they enter the precinct." John stared as the screen moved back marginally to the moment he wanted.
When the screen started playing it was at a noticeable slower speed, he leaned in closer and just before he disappeared, he saw what could only be a blur flash through the slowed frame. You could not see any distinguishable features and there was a vague human shape, but that was all you got.
As he studied the image he felt someone next to him also lean in and with a start realised it was the Captain.
"Now isn't that interesting." The gruff voice stated.