Fight for Your Life

The afternoon sun shines brightly across the clear, blue sky, making the spring day unseasonably warm. The humidity from the early morning shower adds to the unbearable heat. Wiping the sweat from his brow, the sergeant continues toward the crime scene. Hearing a noise to his right, Joe turns and sees two burly-looking men hoisting what used to be a black coupe up the steep mountainside. Joe pictures their suspect in his mind. He then recalls the family Jeff left behind. He might be alive if we'd picked him up sooner. We didn't have anything to pick him up for. Shaking his head, Joe ducks under the yellow tape.

"What can you tell us, Kirk?" the sergeant asks, analyzing the scene.

Kirk has been in forensics for a little over ten years. A month in as a beat cop, he decides it isn't for him. The captain noticed his love for science and suggested Kirk go into forensics instead. He loves his job, but he's looking for a new challenge. A job that will stimulate his brain the way forensics once did. He sometimes toys with the thought of becoming a detective but is afraid it might be a mistake, especially after his experience as a cop.

"Boss, wiz kid," Jerry says as he approaches them. Kirk earned the name wiz kid and Brainiac after acing all his exams. That and he knows a little bit about everything. The captain says Kirk is his walking, talking encyclopedia.

"The driver's name is Victor Martin. He was found in a pile of rocks about a hundred feet from his car."

A puzzled look crosses Joe's face. "Victor Martin, are you sure?"

"That's what his driver's license says, and his fingerprints confirmed his ID." He pulls up a DMV photo on his phone and hands it to the sergeant.

"He and our suspect could be twins." Joe hands the phone to Jerry.

"Get a DNA sample from your suspect, and compare the two to see if there's a familial match."

Kirk nods. I'll see what I can do, sir."

Joe turns toward Jerry.

"See if there's any connection between the two."

"Copy that, boss," Jerry says, walking toward his car.

"What time did the accident occur, Kirk?"

"The ME put his time of death between one and four."

Joe scans through the crowd. "Who found him?"

"Mr. Black." Kirk points him out, then continues. "Said he was squirrel hunting when he saw the car."

Joe sees an older man sitting on a boulder off to the side. His thick, scraggly beard formed a v's at his chest. His long, greasy hair is pulled into a ponytail and fastened at the nape of his neck. His threadbare attire is held together by layers of grime. "I want the car processed ASAP, and tell the ME to put a rush on the victim's tox screen."

"Will do, Sergeant."

Joe heads toward the grungy mountain man. "Mr. Black, my name is Sergeant Bower. I work for the Berryville PD." Joe flashes his badge. "Start at the beginning and tell me everything you saw."

"My dog and I were out hunting when I spotted the car. My first thought was to see if everyone was alright, but I didn't find anyone inside. I figured the ambulance took him away." He pats the dog on his head. "Lucky proved me wrong." The man points toward a spot and then continues. "He was the one who found him on the pile of rocks."

"Did you find anyone else?"

The man shakes his head. "No. And believe me, sir, Lucky and I searched the entire mountainside." He pauses, then says, "I wanted to be a detective back in the day, but Mama got sick, and I had to take care of her." He shrugs. "Guess police work wasn't in my cards." Mr. Black glances toward the road. "This isn't the first time that corner's taken a life, and I'm sure it won't be the last." Shaking his head, he adds. "The city needs to do something about it before it kills us all."

Not wanting to get into a debate, Joe says, "Thank you for your time." He turns to find Jerry heading toward him. "Did you find anything?"

"Our victim is 33, recently divorced. His last arrest was a month ago for DUI and drug possession with the intent to sell. He was released on bond last week. Mr. Mansini posted his bail."

"Wait, isn't he Jeff's attorney?"

"I believe so, boss. And Mancini has a reputation for working for the Bambini cartel."

Joe scratches his head. "Now that's an interesting coincidence."

"Isn't it, though, boss? I didn't find a connection other than that, but I'll keep looking."

"We'll go talk to the ex and see if she can tell us more."

"She might be the missing piece we need."

"Let's hope so, Jerry." Hearing footsteps coming toward them, they both turn around.

"Guys, I found this in the trunk." Kirk shows them an empty gas can and a dark blue suit. "One of the buttons is missing," he says, showing them the right sleeve.

Joe turns toward Jerry, a curious expression on his face. "Could he have set the fires and not Jeff?"

"Or, Bambini is framing this guy for Jeff's crimes."

"Yeah, or maybe, Jerry, he and Jeff are working together on this massive spree."

"And Bambini is the mastermind behind the whole thing."

Clearing his throat, Kirk says, "The fires resulted from the owners refusing to pay, right?"

"We believe so but can't prove it. Why?"

"So who's to say Bambini isn't blackmailing Jeff and Mitch too?"

Jerry remembers what Rachel said about Jeff always upholding the law."That would explain a lot, boss."

"Think it's time for another sit down with our friend Jeff. After we talk to Mitch's ex to see if we can get what we need to tie the three together. "

***

The laundry room shelves vibrate when Julie slams the basement door too. A few small items fall to the floor. Julie dodges the falling debris. I need to make sure he stays put. Bracing herself against the wall, She inches her way to her feet. Hopping over to the barrier, she uses her teeth to slide the latch across. We have to escape before he wakes up. She's jumping towards the kitchen when she hears her daughter scream. Julie leaps to the door. She finds George stroking her daughter's face when she reaches the entryway. "Leave my baby alone," she screams.

George storms across the kitchen. Leaning down, he glares into her eyes and says, "If I had it my way, you'd already be dead, but Bambini insists we keep you alive." The man's eyes suddenly light up. "He didn't say anything about ruffing you up." He shoves her backward.

Losing her balance, Julie tumbles to the floor."

Leaning down, he growls, "It'd be a shame if you died in a trip and fall, and I can and will make it happen if you don't behave."

Julie shivers at the thought.

Walking into the kitchen, he unties Abby leans down, and says, "It's time for you and me to have a little fun."

Lifting her feet, the child kicks him between his legs. The man doubles over in pain. Raising her feet again, Abby gives him a shove. The man stumbles backward across the scattered junk. Unable to regain his balance, George falls to the floor.

The young child runs for the door.

George grabs her pigtails and jerks her back. "You're not going anywhere."

"Let me go, let me go," Abby yells, struggling to break free.

"Time for George to have a little fun." He chuckles, dragging the child across the floor.

"Help me, Mommy, please help me," Abby begs.

Julie hurried to the door, but George and her daughter were already gone. Precious moments of her daughter's life flash through Julie's mind as George drags the screaming child toward the stairs. Her first vision is holding Abby in her arms for the first time. She then recalls Abby babbling tirelessly in her chair. Food smeared across her sweet face, and how her child's first word surprised her. Julie wasn't sure if she should hug or scold her for saying a four-letter word. Julie then remembers Abby shuffling around the house and saying, ut oh, when she fell. Her child's desperate cry brings her back to the present.

"Stop him, Mommy, please stop him," Abby begs from the adjoining room.

Scooting to the swinging door, she kicks it open and says, "Please, mister, please take me instead."

George gives her a quick once over and sneers.

"I'll do whatever you want for as long as you like if you leave my baby alone." She sobs.

"You're not my type," he replies, lugging Abby up the stairs.

"Help me, Mommy, please, help me," the child begs.

"Please don't hurt my sweet baby. Please don't hurt my little girl," Julie sobs watching the two disappear.