By the Fire: Issue 3 Read online

  He looked up at David. “Help ya?”

  “I’m here to see Ashley Scott’s body.”

  “Oh, the hottie in tray 12. She’s our VIP guest.”

  David frowned but bit his tongue. The attendant kept talking as he got up. “I saw her around town some. Always wanted to see her naked.” He licked his lips.

  David felt his fists clench. “The body please.”

  “Ok. No need to be testy. I need to see your ID.”

  David pulled out his wallet and tossed his license on the counter. The attendant looked at it bending it slightly back and forth before handing it back.

  “Got a call yesterday authorizing you to sign for the body. Hate to see her go though. Just follow me.”

  David stared hard at his back as he followed him, still clenching his fist. He shivered when the cold air of the morgue hit him. The attendant turned around and smirked at him.

  “Creeped out at the idea of seeing a dead body?”

  David narrowed his eyes at him. “I’ve seen plenty of bodies. The only thing that creeps me out here is you. Now how about you just show me the victim.”

  The attendant sniffed and spun on his heels. He led him to a storage unit along the wall and checked the number against his clipboard. He wrenched the handle open and slid the tray out. Stepping back he glowered at David as he pulled the sheet back.

  David couldn’t help but gasp. There was his friend’s granddaughter on a slab. He forced himself to pull the sheet back further. The sight of her torso made him grit his teeth. Her body was covered in wild stab marks. His hands were trembling but he forced himself to lift her arms to inspect them. Numerous shallow cuts were on her arms and hands especially her palms and fingers.

  He gently placed her arms back by her side and pulled the sheet back over her body. Taking his hat off he ran a hand through his hair.

  “Not so pretty anymore is she” the attendant asked.

  David moved suddenly and grabbed him by his lapels. “How about you just shut your damn mouth and get her body ready to go home you son of a bitch?”

  He forced his hands to relax and shoved the attendant backwards. He smoothed out the front of his lab coat and thrust his clipboard towards David.

  “Just sign this tough guy and hope I don’t press charges for assault.”

  David snatched it from him and scribbled his signature on the page. He dropped it on the floor and walked out. Shoving his hands in his pockets helped keep them from wrapping around the attendant’s throat.

  Outside he pulled out his cell phone and stared at it for almost five minutes before hitting the dial button. It rang twice before there was an answer.

  “David?”

  “Hey Melody.” He couldn’t think of what to say next and fell silent.

  “Have you seen the body” Melody finally asked.

  “Yeah. I just left. They’re processing the paper work to get her home to you.” He didn’t tell her what the attendant had said. Thinking about his words made him want to go back inside swinging.

  “Is it bad?”

  He wanted to lie to spare her but he couldn’t. “It’s bad. Whoever did this left her pretty messed up. But I swear I’m going to find this monster and make him pay.”

  Melody’s voice took on a hard edge, “If you get the chance, kill him. Painfully.”

  He didn’t know how to reply so he simply hung up.

  Back in the vehicle he looked up the address for the police station. He followed the directions to a new brick building. Inside was a pretty blond working the front desk.

  “May I help you sir” she asked him.

  He took his hat off and held it in his hands. “My name is David Ritter. I’m acting on behalf of Melody Scott. I came to see if I could speak with the detective in charge of the Ashley Scott murder investigation.”

  Her face fell when she heard Ashley’s name. “Oh that poor girl. You need to speak to Charlie. Excuse me, I mean Sergeant Miller. One second.”

  She hit the intercom button on her phone. “Sarg, I have a David Ritter here to speak with you about the Scott case.”

  “Send him on back Candy.”

  “Yes sir. Oh and are we still on for dinner?”

  A chuckle came over the intercom. “You know we are honey.”

  “I’m just making sure that cute young thing in traffic hasn’t been hitting on you again.”

  “Oh lord, just send Mr. Ritter back please.”

  “Hey, that’s not a denial mister.”

  She was smiling though when she looked up at David. “Go on back sweetie, last door on the left.”

  David followed her directions and knocked on the open door frame. A tall man with close cropped hair stood up from behind his desk and walked around with his hand extended.

  “Sergeant Charles Miller.”

  “David Ritter” he replied as they shook.

  “How may I help you Mr. Ritter?”

  David held up a hand. “Just David please.”

  He glanced around the office. Pictures were leaned against the wall around the room but most weren’t hung yet. “New office?”

  “New station” Miller replied. “The old one got blown up.”

  David jerked back slightly. “Uhm, what?”

  Miller waved his hand in front of him. “It’s a long story. What can I do for you?”

  David shook his head before taking a seat. “I’m here representing Melody Scott the grandmother of Ashley Scott. She asked me to stop by and inquire about the progress of the investigation.”

  Miller leaned back in his seat. “There isn’t much I can discuss I’m afraid while this is an ongoing investigation. I hope you can understand.”

  David nodded his head. “I understand perfectly. I worked as a detective for the LAPD for 10 years. Anything that I can relay would be helpful though. Any suspects that you are investigating?”

  Miller shook his head. “We’re still conducting interviews and having the forensic evidence processed. It’s still too soon to have anyone in mind for this.”

  David sat back and rubbed at his eyes. “I’m sorry Sergeant Miller. I don’t mean to pester you. The Scott family is very dear to me and I’m just hoping for a speedy resolution to this investigation.”

  I understand. Have you seen the body yet?”

  “I just came from there. I… I’ve seen some things but whoever did this was a monster. Not the only monster that I met today.”

  Miller leaned forward putting his arms on his desk. “I take it you met Craig while you were there?”

  “The creepy morgue attendant?”

  “That’s the one. He’s a ghoul. I’ve been trying to get him gone for a year now.” He shook his head while he said all this.

  “I almost slugged him several times.”

  The sergeant laughed. “Believe me I’ve felt the same way.” The smile left his face. “We’re going to find this guy. Don’t worry.”

  David chewed on his lower lip a moment before responding. “I hope you don’t mind if I do some asking around of my own.”

  Miller spread his hands out and said “Just let me know if you learn anything.”

  David stood up and reached across the desk to shake his hand again before leaving. He tipped his hat to Candy who smiled and waved at him.

  He was almost to his car when he heard his name being called Turning around he saw Sergeant Miller walking hurriedly towards him.

  “Just wanted to say, if it was me, I’d start with a young lady named Christina Bell. That’d be Ashley Scott’s personal assistant. We haven’ gotten much out of her. Poor dear is pretty deeply shocked. But maybe you’ll have better luck. Most likely find her out at the shoot off of Farley Swamp road. Need directions?”

  David grabbed his hand again and shook it. “Nah, I have a GPS but I appreciate your help a lot Sergeant.”

  Miller sketched him a salute and walked back towards the building. David climbed back into his car and started it up.

  “Well, I gu
ess I’m headed to the movies.”

  Petty Things

  “I’m a god” said the blond across the table.

  Bobby swallowed his beer trying not to cough. “Uhm, what?”

  “I’m a god.”

  “You’re God?”

  “No, I’m A god. Little g.” She held her thumb and forefinger close together. “Very little g.”

  He shook his head. How crazy was this chick?

  He had finished his last final earlier that afternoon. When he got back to his apartment his roommate was busy getting high.

  “Is that all you do?”

  Jake set his bong down. “Of course not! I go to class. Sometimes. Just not all the time. Besides, I still pass all my tests.”

  Bobby mused for a minute on the sad fact that Jake did indeed pass all of his classes literally without trying.

  “Whatever. I’m finally done with this semester.”

  He plopped down on the second hand couch beside Jake. Jake waggled his bong in his direction.

  Bobby held up a hand. “No thanks.”

  “You need to lighten up a little buddy.”

  “I can’t. I’m not like you. This doesn’t come that easy to me.”

  “Hey, no classes tomorrow buddy. Let’s go out tonight and celebrate. Get a drink. Shoot some pool. Maybe you’ll even get lucky. Lord knows you need to work out some stress.”

  “I don’t know. I’m really tired.”

  “Nope. Not hearing it. Tonight’s the night we find you a little slice of heaven.”

  Five hours later he found himself at the counter of a bar trying to get the bartenders attention long enough to order. Looking around he saw Jake showing some brunette in daisy dukes how to play pool. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “You look like you could use some help” he heard from his right. He turned and saw a cute girl with long blond hair and bright green eyes in a red summer dress.

  He smiled. “I think I might.”

  “It’s a lot easier to get a drink when you have boobs. I’ll tell you what; I’ll get your order in if you buy me a beer. Deal?”

  He glanced back at the bartender who was still not looking his direction. “Deal.”

  She pointed across the bar. “Why don’t you grab us a table and I’ll be right there.”

  “Sounds good, I’ve got a tab open under Bobby.”

  He rushed across the room and snagged a table right before another couple reached it. The girl gave him a sharp look while her boyfriend steered her away. A minute later the blond plopped two beers down on the table.

  She did a little shimmy and said “I told you the girls could get it done.”

  Bobby laughed and tried not to stare too long at said girls.

  “I’m Stephanie by the way.”

  He reached out his hand and said “Bobby.”

  “Well Bobby O thanks for the beer.”

  He held his bottle up in a salute before taking a sip. “So why is a pretty girl like you here alone?”

  “I’m a serial killer looking for my next victim” she replied before taking a sip of her own.

  Bobby chuckled nervously. “No really.”

  “What, you don’t believe a girl could be a psycho killer?”

  He smiled “Oh, not really. Not the cute ones at least.”

  “Ok, well the truth is my friends ditched me at the last second.”

  “Well that’s pretty bitchy.”

  “Isn’t it though!? Its ok, I’ll get them back. I’m like the queen of revenge.”

  “What do you have in mind” he asked.

  “Oh, I haven’t decided yet. But enough about them. Tell me about you.”

  Bobby started talking and found himself telling her everything about himself. Maybe it was the beer. Maybe it was the way she curled a lock of her hair around her finger so hypnotically but he spoke for close to an hour about his hopes and fears. Finally he asked “what about you”.

  That’s when she dropped her bombshell. “I’m a god.”

  He took another sip of his beer. “Ok, I’ll bite. What kind of god? Greek, Roman, Norse?”

  “All of the above. That was all one big dysfunctional family anyway with a bunch of names and disguises all over the world.”

  He leaned over the table and grinned. He had decided to play along. “Ok, so which one are you?”

  “I’m the one that never gets mentioned. Very few people ever even knew my name. I’m the goddess of petty revenge.”

  “Uh huh. And what all does that entail?”

  She blew a lock of hair out of her eyes. “Well, in the old days if someone slighted me or one of my few followers I’d curse their prize animal. Or I’d make their well taste bad. These days its little things like keying cars or making sure they get a nasty computer virus off of whatever porn site they are looking at.”

  He laughed, “Major revenge there alright.”

  She frowned at him. “I said petty revenge. Little hurts for little slights. Like if a guy doesn’t hold the door open for a lady. Or is talking on his cellphone at the counter while he orders.”

  “Or if a girl bails on a valentines date with a made up excuse like Susie Howell did to me two years ago?”

  Stephanie reached in her purse and pulled out a small notebook. She scribbled in it very quickly before putting it away. “Don’t worry; I’ll get her back for that.”

  Bobby leaned back in his chair and put his hands up. “Whoa, I didn’t mean that you should track her down. I was just giving an example.”

  “Don’t worry” she replied. “That’s what I do.” She jumped up from her chair. “Now how about you and I get out of here? Maybe go dancing or just back to your place.” She shimmied again as she spoke and Bobby felt his heartbeat pick up watching her move.

  “Uhm, how about one more drink before we go?”

  Her smile perked up. “Ok, sounds like a plan. I’ll be right here waiting.”

  Walking away he spotted Jake at the bar talking to a different girl than earlier. He clapped a hand on his shoulder. Jake turned around and gave him a drunken smile.

  “Hey, I’m going on home.”

  “What? Why? The night is young!”

  “I met a crazy one. I’m escaping while I can.”

  “Oof! Yeah, run away my friend. Run away.”

  “Are you good to get home” Bobby asked.

  “Oh yeah man. If I even come home.” Jake wagged his eyebrows up and down.

  “Ok. See you tomorrow. Be safe. Penicillin shots ain’t that cheap my friend.”

  He drove home in silence to an empty apartment. Several episodes of rerun sitcoms later he passed out in his bed. The next morning he woke to the sounds of pans crashing followed by giggling in the kitchen. He jerked awake and when he tried to get up too quickly his sheets wrapped around his legs. He fell to the floor and groaned in pain. Pushing himself up he disentangled himself from the sheets and stumbled into the kitchen.

  “What the hell is going on in here” he asked rubbing sleep from his eyes.

  Jake was standing in front of the stove with his arms around some brunette. The two were giggling. Jake was just wearing pajama pants and the girl was only wearing one of his oversized t shirts.

  “Oh, sorry man, we didn’t mean to wake you up. We’re making pancakes. Want some?”

  Bobby covered a yawn before replying. “Sure. I’ll make the coffee.”

  “Excellent idea. But first I have to drain the lizard.”

  He picked up the coffee pot while Jake wandered out of the room. While he was filling it with water he tried to catch a glimpse of the girl’s legs. Ruff! While he was loading the coffee maker he felt her move beside him. She slid something onto the counter. He picked it up.

  “What’s this?”

  “You forgot to close your tab last night so I took care of it for you.”

  “Oh, thanks, that was….. what the hell? Five hundred dollars?”

  He spun around to find her leaning in close to h
im. “I told you that I always get revenge. You shouldn’t have ditched me.”

  He stepped away from her mouth hanging open. “Plus, you could have had all of this.” She ran her hands over her body while she spoke.

  “I don’t believe this. You can’t be Stephanie.”

  “And why not? Not blond enough?” Her hair changed from brown to red to blond and then back to brunette.

  He started sliding along the counter trying to get away. “Oh crap oh crap oh crap!”

  She smiled at him sweetly. “You should have known better” she said in a sing song voice.

  “What happened to just keying cars” he asked.

  You drive a ’93 Toyota. Why would I key it and add to the scratches and dents it already has?”

  He closed his eyes “This can’t be real. It can’t.”

  “Oh don’t worry honey, it’s real alright. And you’ll be seeing plenty of me around here from now on. I told you I always get my revenge.”

  “What kind of revenge is sleeping with my roommate?”

  “Oh I’ve got plans for you. If I were you I wouldn’t expect to bring too many girls around here. And you should just give up on sleep. I’m what you might call a screamer.”

  He shook his head frantically. Stephanie, or whatever her name really was, leered at him until Jake walked back into the room.

  “What’s going on in here? Do I need to be worried about you and my roommate” he asked with a smirk.

  “You don’t need to worry about me honey. Now how many pancakes would you like?”

  Freedom Sun

  Chapter 3

  Alicia sat at the conference table beside Delaney. Across from them sat Crewman Jones and the marine squad. Armed men ringed the room. She supposed she should be getting used to this situation. She made eye contact with Delaney and he winked at her. She cracked a smile but neither of them said anything. A moment later the door opened and a soldier walked in and saluted her.

  “Captain James, General Stalls requests your presence.”

  Alicia looked up from her seat but didn’t stand or return the salute. The soldier frowned down at her.

  “Tell the General that if he wishes to speak to me I’ll be right here monitoring the treatment of our ‘guests’.”