August 11th, 2008

At the EOD Building.

"I wonder what's going to happen at the police board interview," said Jack

Sam replied, "Honestly. I don't know. To be honest. I'm going to my dad's restaurant to get a bite to eat,"

Sam left the building but walked to his father's restaurant on Main Street at the intersection of Main Street and First Street.

The restaurant is nice looking with classic wallpaper, booths, and normal square tables with four tables. Not adding there's a area for customers to come and pick up their orders and grab bottle sodas.

Sam just walked to a empty booth and sat down. It wasn't long until a cute waitress came to take his order.

Sam said he would take the deluxe breakfast and before the waitress could reply he said that he would take the eggs scrambled, bacon to be crispy, the sausage to be brown sugar and honey, the pancakes with syrup and the biscuit to be soft and freshly made.

Before the waitress could reply, Sam said he would take a large orange juice as a drink.

The waitress then walked off and placed his order in. Sam looked around and saw the Island Patrol officers in their light blue short-sleeved shirt with dark accents and a black tie, dark blue trousers with yellow side stripe, and black shoes. They wear a blue police cap, and have their black utility belt and some are wearing black leather jacket.

Sam also saw the Clearlake Police their officers in their white collared shirts, black full Windsor tie, dark blue jackets, dark blue trousers, and black loafer shoes. They also have dark blue police cap and a black utility belt.

Sam just waited patiently for his order to arrive but his drink got their first and he took a sip.

"Sam what a surprise to see you here," said a man's voice.

Sam replied, "Dad. Long time no see!"

Sam got up and hugged his father.

Sam's father sat down in the same booth as his only son.

"Hey dad?" Asked Sam, "You served in the military right?"

Sam's dad replied, "Yes I was. 9th Marine Division, 108th Marine Regiment, 12th Battalion, Fox Company, 4th Platoon, 2nd Squad. From 1973 to 1975. In the Kon Tum province of Vietnam. But I didn't get back here until '79 though,"

"If you don't mind telling me dad," said Sam, "What did you do as a Marine in Vietnam?"

Sam's father replied, "Oh boy... Where do I start? I was the everyman. I was mostly armed with a TNT, a Phoenix pistol, a Baker M38 pump-action shotgun, grenades, gas mask, and a walkie talkie. I did mostly anything. But I was mostly a tunnel rat. But at the base I would work on vehicles and clean out the tanks. But when it rained I would just stand out in the rain letting it clean me but I did take showers whenever I could. The longest I was in combat was for ninety four days. We were outnumbered thirty to one and we were surrounded by a whole bunch of NVA and VC. They bombarded the living shit out of the base and we were relieved though,"

"What happened in that long battle?" Asked Sam

Sam's father replied, "They hit us hard and only way we survived was air drops and round the clock air support. They had lulls in their attacks which gave us some breathing room but after a few minutes the assault would begin again. On day eighty two was when the Second Marine Division broke through the southern guard of NVA and VC and we were also relieved by the first airborne division and thirty ninth airborne regiment. But that was back in '74. Still remember that battle like yesterday. I've seen things, I've heard things, and I've been through things that'll haunt me and keep giving me nightmares even after I die!"

"When did you get home?" Asked Sam

Sam's father replied, "October 23rd, 1979. That's when I got home. Was a P.O.W. for four years. I was left behind while the squad I was in abandoned me. Worst Goddamn camp I was at! Took me four years and multiple escape attempts too. But I came back and did a few more tours in 1980-1984. I met your mother in '86. Don't know what I saw in her to stay with her I wish I could go back in time and convince younger me to break up with her and not marry her. But we can't change the past."

"Yeah that's true," said Sam, "We can't change the past,"

It wasn't long until Sam's breakfast arrived and his father let him eat in peace than keep talking about his experiences in the Vietnam war.

Sam ate in peace and paid the two dollar and fifty cents bill but he left a three dollar tip. And he walked back to the E.O.D. Building.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Before Sam got there Jack came in the unmarked 1950's Americana four door styled car.

"Get in Sam," said Jack, "Mitchell needs our help over at 3453 Cherry Street!"

Sam got in.

"What is it?" Asked Sam

Jack replied, "Got a 417. And a officer down."

Jack drove with the rotary light on and siren blaring.

***

A couple of minutes later.

The two got out of their car and ran over to their friend Mitchell who's in a white collared shirts, black full Windsor tie, dark blue jackets, dark blue trousers, and black loafer shoes also with the black police utility belt and a black leather jacket. He has his parkerized M1911A1 pointed right at the house.

"Alright Mitchell fill us in," said Sam

Mitchell replied, "Had a 415. Rookie Officer Starlight Ruby Ivanov went around back and their was a loud gunshot. I went around back and found a blood trail that went inside and that was seven minutes ago,"

"What's your plan?" Asked Jack

Mitchell replied, "Waiting for backup and 7-Zebra-12 and 67-Zebra-4. The asshole been taking pot shots at me. Jack, Sam go around back and block his escape,"

"What happened?" Asked Jack, "Tell us what happened?"

Mitchell replied, "For the few hundredth time. Mrs. Ballard was or still is the victim of domestic abuse and like every sob story she said she called the cops and when police arrives she says it's a misunderstanding. Now look where we are. I've seen reflections of a shotgun from time to time. There's some bad cover around back. I wouldn't suggest using the glass patio table as cover. But maybe you two can hide under the shed."

Jack went over to the unmarked car and opened the trunk and grabbed the Police Tactical Shotgun and went around back with Sam.

Another police car came and it was Hailey and she also ran over to Mitchell with her 9mm pistol.

***

Jack and Sam found a ladder and they placed it carefully along the house and Jack climbed the ladder.

Sam was keeping him covered.

***

Jack entered the house through the second floor window.

I'm I'm the layer of the beast now, Jack thought, Got to watch my step. Oh what fresh hell is this?

Jack entered a room filled with dead female bodies that's been taxidermied and it crept Jack out and he seen some things while as a Marine.

What the fuck is this! Jack thought, This guy is a sick fuck!

Jack tiptoed around the second floor but kept his revolver drawn.

Jack couldn't find Rookie Officer Starlight Ruby Ivanov but he searched every square inch of the second floor but nothing.

There was a loud bang from a shotgun and he went back where he came in from and saw Sam laying on the ground.

Jack then heard footsteps coming up the stairs so he hid underneath the bed but saw someone enter the room.

Jack held his breath but he never thought he would be in the same room with a killer who taxidermy people for the fun of it.

The guy knocked the ladder down and left the room.

Shit, shit, shit, Jack thought, This is not good! My best friend is out there and he just been shot!

After a couple of minutes.

Jack heard the door kick in.

"Don't move or I shoot. Hands up. Hands up I said!" Said Mitchell

There was a loud bang and some smaller gunfire.

Jack carefully got out from under the bed and went downstairs. There were fourteen Special Weapons And Emergency Service Unit officers with automatic weapons.

"Hello Jack," said Mitchell, "Didn't expect you to be inside,"

Jack replied, "And I didn't expect you to be both a fireman and a policeman. Also Starlight isn't upstairs but about eight or nine dead taxidermied female bodies upstairs first door on the right. Will he live?"

"The medics are on their way," said Mitchell before walking off.

Both Mitchell and Jack went to the basement door where the blood trail ended. Mitchell tried to open the door but it was locked so Mitchell without finding a key just kicked it open.

Jack was behind Mitchell with Mitchell having his M1911A1 out and having a flashlight out as well.

"What the hell?" Said Mitchell

Jack replied, "What the hell is this?"

"I think we solved the case of eighteen missing people," said Mitchell

They both then found Rookie Officer Starlight Ruby Ivanov laying on the concrete floor. The two ran over and she does still has a pulse so they both got her up and walked with her outside.

Mitchell then radioed for another ambulance but had the first one take Starlight to the town hospital.

Sam was fine but felt like he got hit by a car but the twelve gauge shotgun pellets hit his vest that's under his shirt.

"Goddamn that's painful," said Sam, "Remind me not to get shot again!"

Sam was in a pain. He just ignored the pain but it was painful due to most of the hit from the shotgun blast was in the upper chest. His ballistic vest caught the blast.

Jack and Sam continued to walk around the house and a lot of the rooms that were locked had to be opened by force. There were dead women.

In the kitchen they saw the lifeless body of Mrs. Ballard.

"She had multiple times to walk away from her husband," said Mitchell

Jack replied, "Thought you would've went to the hospital with Starlight?"

"She's a tough cookie," said Mitchell, "Give her a few days and maybe some Vodka she'll be back on the beat soon,"

Jack replied, "She's a alcoholic?"

"No just that she's a fourth generation Russian-Little Birden," said Mitchell, "But I'll stop by after this to see her. Hey Sam! There's someone outside at a police barrier who wants to talk to you!"

***

Outside

Sam saw Hailey standing their in her light blue short-sleeved shirt with dark accents and a black tie, dark blue trousers with yellow side stripe, and black shoes. She also had her police cap on.

"Hello Sam," said Hailey, "Shocked to see me?"

Sam replied, "Shouldn't you still be in the hospital? You were knocked out and injected with drugs and also artificially inseminated by a scientist who's on the sex offender register! You know what you know when you're ready but I'm here for you,"

"I should be home resting up," said Hailey, "But I'm a tough cookie! I was in Clearlake High boxing when I was in high school and a police explorer as a teenager! Going to need more than a frying pan and attemptive artificial insemination against someone's will to keep this woman down! I took on men who were twice my size in boxing! I took on women three times my size! My mother is just a annoying pest! Good news is that I get to meet with a insurance investigator later today. Because most arsons are for insurance,"

The two shared a kiss

"Oh don't forget tomorrow you and Jack have that law enforcement board to meet with," said Hailey, "Don't let them intimidate you. They'll use big words to try to intimidate you,"

Sam replied, "I won't let them scare me! The VC and the KGB/w Spetsnaz were a much bigger threat when I was a Marine!"

"Good boy," said Hailey, "Don't let those big baddies get to you or get under your skin,"

Jack came out.

"Hey Hailey," said Jack, "How are you doing?"

Hailey replied, "I'm fine. Surprised to see me back on the beat within a day?"

"Yeah I expected you would've stayed home and rest up," said Jack, "But you know what. You're ready when you say when you're ready,"

Hailey looked at her watch and politely excused herself to go and meet with the insurance investigator.

"You should marry her right away," said Jack, "And father some children right away... But not in my and my girlfriend house!"

Sam replied, "Fuck you Jack. I would rather wait for some time to pass before I propose,"

***

At the Clearlake clinic which is a square building on main street with ten rooms and a ambulance bay with ten ambulances.

"How is she?" Asked Jack

Mitchell replied while holding a cup of coffee, "She's alive. She's in a medically induced coma while they remove the birdshot shotgun shells,"

"Birdshot. That's painful," said Sam, "Hope she'll be alright,"

Mitchell replied, "She'll be fine. Her father's on his way here. Her mother and identical twin sister aren't coming because they don't care. She'll just be resting for awhile and put on medical leave until fully recovered,"

"Lovely family," Jack said sarcasticly

Mitchell replied, "Yeah they're real 'lovely' I met her twin sister and she's a bitch!"

They wanted to talk to Ms. Starlight Ivanov but they would have to wait where it'll be days if not weeks until she will be out of the medically induced coma.

Soon Mr. Ballard came in on the stretcher where he's been shot by Mitchell and Hailey but survived.

"I hope he dies painfully!" Said Mitchell

Jack and Sam agreed.