The Orphan's Parents

Chapter 8

“I fought the law and the law won, I fought the law and the law won.” “I fought the law and the law won, I fought the law and the law won.”

Cole pulled his car over to the side of the road, a horn blasted as the car behind shot by. He raised his hand to issue some form of apology for not signalling and letting them know he was pulling over. He was too busy trying to locate his phone.

Whoever was calling seemed awfully eager to talk thought Cole. He eventually found his phone wedged in the back of his seat. He quickly answered without even looking at the screen.

“DCI Cole Who’s Calling?”

There was a slight pause and then the Detective Chief Super Intendant’s booming voice appeared over the phone.

“Cole There’s going to be another one tonight you need to come into the office. Where are you?”

Cole didn’t quite understand, he replied unaware of what he was about to here.

“Listen Chief, another what? I’m on my way to Arthur Finley’s workplace we need to start creating a profile we don’t have much to go on.”

“Another murder Cole there’s going to be another murder.”

Cole was puzzled unsure as to how and why the super could know such a thing.

“How do you know Chief? I don't understand.”

The Chief didn’t have time to do much explaining he needed Cole back at the office.

“Cole just get back here I need you to come back immediately ok.”

“On my way Chief.” He hung up.

 Cole checked his mirrors pulled out and headed off back in the direction he had come. His mobile started to ring again his wife’s name flashed on the screen he wanted to answer but something stopped him. He couldn’t decide what but he would call her back later.

Cole scythed his way through the streets the driving rain made visibility poor but he seemed to think he could drive these roads blindfolded anyway.

 All the way back to headquarters he tried to make sense of the chief’s phone call. Had he misheard him? Did he say there had been another murder or there was going to be? He would find out soon enough he thought.

Cole had luck negotiating the city centre traffic lights and soon found himself approaching headquarters. He pulled in to a space at the rear off the building. Pulling his jacket over his head he opened the door and made off in a sprint towards the entrance.

It was only about twenty metres from his car to the building but he was soaked by the time he got inside. The rain was coming down in sheets rather than drops and Cole was now guilty of looking like a drowned rat.

He didn’t care he headed straight along the narrow corridor towards the stairs. The low energy bulbs barely lit the stairwell as he charged up towards the offices. The door at the top burst open letting through a more adequate amount of light.

The Chief was stood there like he had been pacing the hall waiting on Cole’s arrival.

“Follow me Cole, my office he called.”

Cole climbed the stairs hastily and headed through the big double doors into the office space. The brighter lights made him blink he couldn’t help thinking there were more people in the room than usual.

 He didn’t stop to make eye contact or speak to anyone he focused his eyes on the chiefs back and didn’t move them until he and the chief were stood in his office.

“Shut the door please Cole.” Said the Chief.

Cole closed the door then laid his jacket on the radiator.

“What’s going on Chief?” asked Cole.

The chief explained that emergency services had received a call tonight by a man claiming he was about to kill another man.

Cole spoke before he had the chance to hear more.

“This could be unrelated to my case Chief, maybe even a prank no?”

The chief steadied himself before continuing.

“I’m afraid there related to your case significantly Cole, in a call to an emergency operator tonight a man claims to have murdered you’re victim Mr Finley. He goes on to explain another man will die tonight.”

Cole is taken by surprise he takes a minute before he reply’s unsure what he’s really asking.

“What do we do now then Chief? We don’t have much to go on from the first victim how do we find the second victim before it’s too late?”

“We don’t Cole, the chances are he is already dead this is strictly between you and me but I’m not holding out any hope for the second victim. We are working on tracing the call we know it came from a mobile but it could take some time.”

“So what Chief we sit around and wait whilst another man loses his life?”

The Chief sympathised with Cole but what could they do.

“Cole there’s something else, emergency operators received a call the same night you’re first victim was murdered. They thought it was a hoax but it wasn’t Cole it was the same man. I have the recordings here for you to listen to.”

“Another thing Cole I’m thinking of bringing someone in to help with this case I don’t want to take the case of you, I believe you can handle it but we might need some help here.”

“No way.” Replied Cole.

 “No way Chief my team can do this bringing in outsiders is going to make the case twice as long.”

“The case has barely started Cole we are out our depth here and tomorrow morning when news breaks that there has been another murder the media are going to have a feeding frenzy.”

Cole was angry but contained it well. “I Can handle it Chief trust me.”

The chief seemed eager to bring in someone else but was none the less impressed by Cole’s confidence.

He handed Cole a disc which contained the recordings. Cole slipped the disc in his pocket and headed out the door towards his own office his mind spinning. A small amount of vomit drove itself up his throat and into his mouth he swallowed it back down and briskly walked into his office. He pulled a bottle of water from a drawer in his desk and slumped into his chair feeling beaten and humiliated.

He turned on his laptop and waited for it to load, he remembered the missed call from his wife and how he was yet to call her back. No wonder she was leaving him he thought.

Once the laptop was up and running Cole pushed the C.D in the drive and listened intently. He didn’t know what he was listening for but something that did strike him was how calm and reassuring the suspect sounded. There was an air of familiarity to his voice which Cole considered to be coincidental.

The first piece of information to really strike Cole was the name the suspect gave. He called himself Justice.

“Call me Justice.”

Cole repeated it over and over. Why justice he thought. What was he justifying?

Was it justifying for his victims? All sorts of possibilities were running through Cole’s brain but somehow he just knew this was important.

The next thing Cole picked up on was that both the victims were male. What does this mean he asked himself?

Vomit was ready to enter his mouth again before he quickly gulped on some water. The guilt that he was possibly leaving a man to die tonight was swelling in his stomach. He couldn’t help thinking they were deserting their duties to serve and protect.

Chapter 9

The rain battered the front windows of Andrew Thorne’s aging Peugeot. The wipers rattled furiously as they battled hard to help Andrew see in front of him.

He couldn’t wait to get home and sit in front of the fire. He was eager to see how pleased his dog Gunther would be to play with the new toy he had bought whilst he was doing his shopping earlier in the day.

He hoped he would lose some energy playing with the squeaky toy because there was no way he was going for a walk in this weather.

 Andrew slowed the car as came towards his house on the outskirts of the city. At sixty seven years old his eyes were failing him badly. He promised himself he would book an eye appointment as he was convinced he had cataracts. He only just noticed the narrow turn in to his house in time to swing the car round.

 He was grateful his hearing wasn’t what it used to be as he didn’t like the screeching sound the bushes made against the car as it dragged itself along the track.

Andrew, parked the car as close to his front door as possible to avoid getting soaked. He picked up the bags of messages from the passenger seat in one giant hand.  Nearly dropping them as he got his key in the door he turned the lock and used his large stomach to push the door open.

He was surprised not to be met by Gunther at the door; Andrew headed through to the kitchen and emptied the contents of the bags onto the worktop.

“GUNTHER” He called.

After calling the dog several times with no response he decided to go investigate. He headed through to the sitting room to find Gunther lying in front of the fire which was still letting out a little heat with the embers sizzling away in the bottom.

Andrew laughed thinking Gunther was enjoying a tremendous sleep in front of the coal fire. He walked over bent down and clapped Gunther still he didn’t move.

 Andrew shook Gunther before noticing a stain forming on the carpet. He believed it was blood and as he inspected Gunther closer he found the wound in his throat. Andrew went straight to his pocket trying to release his mobile phone but before he could do so he was struck over the head with a violent and heavy blow.

Justice hadn’t quite knocked him out. Andrew tried to stand his vision blurred he managed to find it to his feet before falling onto his knees again. Andrew was a big man Justice couldn’t take the risk if letting him get up again.

He raised his hand again the perfectly rounded stone he used to break into the house was now being used as a weapon. He brought his arm down again this time with more force and intent. The stone crashed right into the back of Andrews’s skull immediately opening a wound. His body gave of a large thud as he hit the wooden floor. He was out cold but still breathing justice would have to act fast.

He ran to the dining room again he couldn’t tell whether he was nervous or excited probably a bit of both he figured. Justice removed a wooden chair from beneath the dining room table. He carried it through to the sitting room.

It was quite an effort for Justice to lift Andrews body up on to the seat he had to place it against the wall so Andrews weight didn’t just topple it over.

 He emptied a rucksack onto the floor. As he was going through the contents Andrew started to make noises, Justice had to hurry he was coming round. He quickly turned and removed Andrews shoes he then used a cordless drill to drive two, six inch screws through either of Andrews feet into the wooden floor.

 Andrew roared with pain but none of the words coming from his mouth made any sense. Justice wondered if he had been brain damaged by the blow to the head. Justice was annoyed, if Andrew didn’t understand what was about to happen to him he might as well end it and get out.

 He quickly sieved through more of the bags contents and found a plastic bag. Justice placed the plastic bag over Andrews head and wrapped a cable tie around his neck and the bottom of the bag.

He paused for a few seconds hoping Andrew would say something but it never came. He watched as Andrew breathed in and out using all the air in the bag. Just as it looked like he was taking his last breath Justice tore a hole in the bag and plunged his knife deep into Andrew stomach.

Justice believed he heard the word please come from Andrews mouth.

“Please fucking please, I don’t think so Andrew you horrible Cunt. You ruined a life now I’ve ruined yours the worlds a better place without scum like you.”

Justice believed Andrew had been able to hear him. He wanted to spit on him but knew that would be suicidal. He stood upright and closed his eyes almost as if he was saying a prayer. He then struck two blows with the knife fast and accurate one in the heart and one in the throat.

It was over Justice only had a few more small details to take care off before he left.