Behind The City

It’s been sixteen years since my grandfather’s death. Now I am a married man with four young boys.

“Morning family” I stated, seeing everybody around the table for breakfast as I fix my tie.

“Here you go love, eggs and bacon” Announced my wife, who works as a manager of a nearby hotel.

“Thank you dear” I cooed at my beautiful wife.

I have four boys Ryan, Tim, Kevin, and Stev. Ryan is the oldest, who is sixteen, following him is Tim who is thirteen. Next is Kevin who’s eight and finally little Stev who’s five.

Peep Peep “Darn. Arthur wants me at work asap, sorry Hun. I guess I have to wait until dinner time to taste your fabulous cooking.” I stated as I gathered my briefcase ready go and giving each of my sons a kiss on the forehead, also kissing my wife before I headed out the door. If your wondering who is Arthur, well he is an old family friend. He’s also one of many of detectives in the department unit. Ring, Ring, Ring. “I got the message the first time, where did they steal this time?” I stated to Arthur who was on the other line. “This is different, we have a new case on our hands and this one might more interesting than a robbery at some jewelry store.” He stated. The case we were on, was these mystery robbers who been stealing for a couple of weeks but I figured where they will strike next and where they might be hiding. “Where is your location?” I asked. “55698 Press Book across the street next to one of the Jack Park ally.” He stated before we both hung up. Once I got there, it wasn’t your ordinary everyday crime scene. There were a dozen officers and a hell lot of people gathered for some parade. It was hard to keep the people away from the crime scene but that’s what happens when murders happen where there’s a lot of people live, work and where it’s crime free. “You’re late,” Tomas stated as I walked past the guards. “So is my two weeks paycheck but you don’t see me complaining,” I stated as I passed him. If your wondering who Thomas is, he’s my pain in the ass boss and the funny part is, he was the same boss as my father’s, so I guess I’m going to have the same ass hole of a boss like my dad’s. He became chief of the department when he was only twelve years old, after his father, Timothy. Rumors say he threaten to expose his father out for a molester or he killed him for abusing his little brother because days after his 12th birthday, his father died. The case was handed to my grandfather, for some reason it still makes me feel uneasy when I think about the case or even look at the file that was given to him because . Even now thinking about it makes me uneasy but it’s no time to think about it. I went straight to the witness who claims to have seen what happened, most of these people just want to be on TV or just be in some case. “Miss. Jorge?” I questioned to the so-called witness. “Yes?” She asked a bit terrified. “I’m detective Miguel, can I ask you a couple of questions?” I asked. “Yes, of course.” She stated. “Can you tell me everything you can remember about what just happened,” I Stated. “I was finishing up my laundry before I headed to bed for my morning shift at the Bacon House at seven o’clock. As I was taking out clothes out of the dryer, all of sudden I heard an agonizing scream then my building shook for an instant. It felt like an earthquake for a second. I decided to take a look outside from my window but I saw no one, I don’t know if it took dark or the body wasn’t there. I wasn’t sure but when I opened the window this morning, I saw the body and I screamed.” She stated with terror look in her eyes, it seems she is telling the truth. “Did you see anyone walking away or around the crime scene?” I questioned. “No, it was as silent as the grave,” She stated. “Thank you for your time,” I stated. After that, I immediately started to look around. It doesn’t seem to any lights around the ally, which is very wired. Most all have lights, every ten feet from each other but this one has none what so ever. I took a closer look at the burn marks before looking at the corps. As I scraped the burn marks, I noticed it came right off. Was this a prank gone wrong or something else? I asked myself. I looked at the surrounding buildings, there’s to seem to be five cameras that should be active all night long. When I go back to the ally, Natalie is waiting for me at the entrees. She is a forensic and a very old childhood friend.

“Had a rough morning Michael?” Humorously stated Natalie.

“Said’s the one with bags under eyes, you hag chested cow. And I’m not like my younger brother!” I said

“Alright alright, no need to make a scene than the one we already have but you can’t hide the fact you look similar to him in some categories” she stated.

As I signed, I said “Fine, so what do we have that Mr. Pain-in my manhole wants me on so damn bad?” I stated.

She leads me down the ally, as we got deep into the ally, there was horror stench. Then right around the corner was the corps. The head was blazed to the point we couldn’t recognize how the face was shaped.

“Beats your 7th-grade sunburn, doesn’t it?” Arthur said as he laid against the wall lighting a cigarette.

“What gave you that impression? I stated sarcasm ly looking at him then the corps. The smell doesn’t faze us, we have smelled death before and once the smell of death knows you, like you it then you can be near death and maybe not even know it’s there. Some say it’s a curse because we work this job, other say we love the smell of corpses but the truth is, it comes with the job. As for me, I’ve already smelled death before. It doesn’t faze me at all, not since that one day.

“What do we know about our victim?” I stated to Natalie.

“Well, so far all information we have collected so far is from his wallet. His name is Mark Jean, address 8958 BlueWing St, sex M, and age 25. The rest we have to look into.” She stated.

“Alright, Arthur I want you to look into the cameras in the surrounding area and get copies of last night, I want everything from the sunset to sunrise. I’m going to contact James to look into Mr.Jean and see what dark secrets he can pull up. Also Natalie, so far what can you tell what happened here?” I stated.

“To tell you the honest truth, I don’t know. Through my years of being forensic, I’ve never seen this before. The skulled structure is completely unrecognizable if it wasn’t for the torched clothes surrounding the neck I wouldn’t haven’t known until the body was in my lab. Whoever did this, they know quite well how to use high-pressure fire or how to properly throw a grenade before exploding.” stated Natalie.

“I see, take as much time as you need to to get inside the killer’s body through the corps. Arthur as soon as you have those copies, let me know immediately when you set them.” I stated as Arthur nodded and walked out of the crime scene. During that time, I might not have put much thought into it but I knew something terrible was going to happen. I got my phone and dialed James’s number. “Thank you for calling the “Hacker MAN”, how can I make your life easier and mine harder?” He stated.

“Hey James, can you look is there any donuts and fresh coffee left?” I asked. “I think there still some donuts left but I doubt there will be any coffee once you guys come back to the office,” He stated. Damn there goes any chance of staying awake after this. “James, how fast can you let know about a dead corpse?” I asked him sounding disappointing about not having coffee later. “Faster than Natalie can you tell you how the killer made his kill.” He stated humorlessly. I gave Natalie that look, that said: “he hasn’t given up yet.” “Alright, his name is Mark Jean, age 25, sex M and his address is 8958 BlueWing St. When you have the information send it to my phone.” I stated. “Already on it, by the way, if you want coffee I suggest going to Starbucks, they good coffee, I have five already in my office.” He stated before we both hung up. “Now for the hard part.” I stated disappointed. As I left the crime scene for Natalie to take care of, I contacted the police to clear the area and move the body to the lab. As the crowd was dispersing, in the corner of my eye was a dark figure. I never really liked people staring at me since the death of my brother but this stare felt like it was going inside of me and to the deepest part of my soul. A cold sweat slid down my cheek and once it left my cheek I was consumed in complete dark fear. I suddenly turned towards where the feeling was coming from but there was no one. Little did I know the staring was coming from someone who was sitting on a bus leaving the bus stop by the building where Mark worked at. Suddenly my hard stare was used by a drop of rain on my cheek, at first, I was confused by the incoming rain after that first drop brought me back to earth. I ran back to my Nissan Juke remembering that there was a big storm coming in today. As I back to the office somewhat soaked I began to think. Why was his faced only torched? Why was his money not taken? Why was the woman was the only one who found him dead? Why was he killed in that area? So many questions were spinning and zooming in my head. Then it hit me. He was working last night, his raggy clothes show that. He must have come to work around the morning time, no later than six o’clock in the morning. When he finally got out, he cared less how he looked since he was most likely the last person to leave the building. Once out the killer made its move but the first few blows really didn’t connect to the killer must have been too far to make a clean blow. The areas his clothes shows that he missed several times, so the killer had a horrible time or Mark was too fast to get a clean hit. But if this is true then the killer must have known and cut him off to get a clean hit and the hit was his face. The kill doesn’t look like the killer was made or trying to kill for fun but more like “I have beaten you and now I take my reward.” But how did the killer know where was he going to go? Mark must have been running for so long that the killer showed he wasn’t slowing down or going to give up so he must have thought to lose him in the ally but somehow the killer was able to get there before he did but how? Then I recall another ally connecting to the one that Mark died. I looked around to see where I can to higher ground and once I found it and ran towards it. Sure enough, my hypothesis was right, the ally that I saw was connected to it wasn’t the only one, there were others. The shape of the all together made a spiderweb, interesting design for that part of the city. I took out my phone and took a picture then I saw something in the center, so I zoomed in and it was a playground. Seems all the kids in the neighborhood comes to play there but it’s a little park for a big area in the center. As the more I thought about it the more I felt unease then all of sudden I felt wired and strange feeling that someone from the park was looking straight at me, like they were right in front of me but that is impossible for that angle and it doesn’t seem, anyone, over there is looking this way. But somehow I felt a strong icy cold stare looking upon me like they were looking into the deepest part of my being or my own soul. Then all of sudden I felt a hand on my right shoulder, I grab the rest of the person and pinned that person against the window frame, with his face dead on the glass enough to that you can hear the “bong” of the head hitting the window and leaving a face imprint on the glass. Once pinned, took out my pistol and put right where his adamant is located right before my phone hit the floor. Then I was woken by the voice of Arther’s, “Micheal.” “Holy shit Arthur, I’m so sorry.” I stated repeatedly as I let go of Arthur and as I did so that feeling that got me all edged up was gone but little did I know there was lurking shadow nearby. “Arthur, what are you doing here?” I asked as my gun was being secured. He started stretching his arm that I had pinned to his back, so far up that if I couldn’t get a clear hit, at least, I can break his arm. “Getting the camera footage as you told asked.” For a moment, I felt completely embarrassed, forgetting that I was in the building that had the most cameras in the crime scene area. “Sorry about that.” I started feeling completely guilty. “It’s alright, you’ve done worse to me.” He stated humorously. “Oh come on, you can’t blame me for kicking your ass in wrestling in High School.” I started feeling accomplished kicking his butt at his favorite sport. “If I remember correctly, you grabbed by the balls when I was on the ground so it when no one was looking at your movements.” He stated embarrassed reminding himself “No, I pinned you down holding all your limbs together.” I started trying not to admit I did those action he named. “Says the guy with his so-called “Trophy” in the living room, over the fireplace from all those years ago.” He stated. “Trophies are about to be over the fireplace so everyone can enjoy it too, not have it in a room or somewhere it not appreciate.” I stated. We both started laughing remembering the good old days. “So why again are you here?” I stated completely forgetting that he already told me. “Getting camera films.” He stated while picking up his bag from the floor. “So that’s all the film from all the cameras in the area?” I stated while looking in the bag. “Almost, there about twenty left from the other stores.” He stated as I gave him back the bag. We both started walking towards the elevator then I got an unexpected phone call from my wife, she was calling me on my emergency number. You know, in case she gets in the car accident, one the kids got in trouble in school or worse. And to my guess, it was about our older son, Ryan, who again had an in prophet magazine in the school. Funny thing about this whole issue is that he turning just like me and his uncle. We use to bring those type of things to our school back then and sometimes much worse. We got caught a few times before that day came when we stopped doing it all together. “Yes, dear?” I answered, knowing the answer she was going to give me. “Ryan is at it again.” She stated. “I thought you took away his magazines.” I started trying to seem that it was her job when it was mine. “Unforsiontly it seemed to be much worse and I remember it being your job to take care of the magazines issue. In either case, the presentable seemed to be involved, along with the dean and chief of the department.” She stated trying not to seem furious. Now, if all three was involved plus the both of us, then Ryan must get something worse than naked anime females in a magazine in school or most likely gotten an another student involved in his little pervy show. If I guess correctly, I have a pretty good clue on where he has gotten these without being us knowing about it and not being caught. “I’ll be there shortly.” I stated before we both hanged up. “It’s another of “those” calls, isn’t it?” Aruther asked as he pushed the elevator button to go down. “Yes, but this time it seens to be much worse tho.” I stated while smiling. Aruther sees me smiling and give a little laugh as he saids. “Your remembering when we were in his place, aren’t you?” “Yes but unlike back then, he might not be able to stop like we did and might get in much more trouble.” I stated, remembering the horror that happened back then. “Maybe so but he has someone who can help with the issue.” Aruther stated putting a smile on my face. “Your right, putting him behind bars might help.” I stated then we both started laughing remembering the good old times. The elavator finally got to the bottom, I said my goodbyes to Aruther and drove off to the school. Once there, for s split moment, I think I saw a student who looked similar to my brother smoking a cigarette by the fence but before I could clarify what I saw, my wife called. “Where are you? We’re waiting for you.” She stated trying to keep her rage down to minamum. I looked gaze back to the place where a student was but the student was no longer there so I went back to focus on the call but I didn’t realize that there was a cigarette on the ground not yet out. Once we got inside the meeting room, I saw Ryan sitting there looking down in the chair, trying not to look at us. He knew that his mom and I were, you can say quite pissed off. Before I sat down, I put my hand on Ryan’s left shoulder and lead close to his ear. And said, “I hope it’s not as bad as what I’m thinking right now.” As I said that I pet his head to give him some comfert on the situation. “Thank you for coming, Mr. and Mrs. Simon.” The principle stated as she sate down at the head of the table of the meeting room. As the meeting progressed, we learn that Ryan still brought magazines to school, sharing it with other male students, and was caught smoking a cigarette on school grounds with other students. Maybe the situation has gotten worse than I thought but where does he get the cigarettes? “The situation has gotten terribly grim, we have come to a dission to excuse your son from our school.” The princible stated with deep greef. We were utterly disapproval. “Isn’t there no other way?!” My wife stated studderly. They shook their heads and passed papers for us to sign, I’m an understanding man but they couldn’t do this without giving him another chance. “I know the situation at hand is utter dissater and he might be turning out a lot worse than I was in high school, and you guys know my history in this school, but you guys haven’t even given him an second chance. He is one of many A students in this school, I’m sure if you look into all the A students you will find something on ther for you to have excuse them with” I stated reduntedly. It took a few mintues for them to think it over but in the end, they decied to give him one more chance but only one. After the meeting, I told my wife to leave Ryan to me once he got home and for her to go back to work. “Migueal, you can’t be seriouse?!” she answer feriously. “Babe, you missed work enough already as it is.” I stated giving her a kiss on the cheek as i fixed her tie, for whatever the reason, the collage teachers must all wear ties. “But” She stated but i soon interuted her. “Don’t worry about my job, information about the case hasn’t comed to me yet so you can relax and go back to work.” I stated as i led her to the car and she drove off. “I’m in deep trouble, aren’t I?” Ryan asked. “That’s one way of looking at it.” I stated. I smacked Ryan across the head and said “this is what’s going to happen..1 once home your going to do your homework, 2 get ride of all the magazeen because if your mom or me see one, at least one, we’re adding a monthto your sentence.” I sated as i was interupted by Ryan. “How long am I grounded?” He asked. “A month and a half.” I stated. He gave a face of not fair and anger. “Remember what i always say Rayn, your action, either be good or bad, has a resalte to them.” I stated to him. “What’s the thrid thing?” He asked. “The 3rd thing is no TV, internet, data, or even stepping a foot outside. If we catch you doing either of those things, well your going be grounded for a while longer.” I stated to him. After our talk, he went back to class and I went to work, where was a pile of papers to do. On top of that, have to look into this guy we found dead this morning, hard sleepless night, here i come. So i get started, i have someone take pictures of the crime sene, along with picture from an satalight. I took a look at the weather from yesturday and nothing seems off from ordernary. Weather was 70′s degrees with 5% of rain and 5miles of wind then it dropped to 50′s degrees with 50% of rain and 15miles of wind. It was unlikely to light up a cigerate let alone burn someone face clean off. Photos of the area didn’t seem to show anything out of the ordernary. Until i started looking at the camera footage, it seemed that they only show the victum running but the killer nowhere in sight. So how was he able to comment the murder? Then it hit me, Mark must have been running since he lucked up for the night. The killer somehow got Mark to run in the derection he wanted, avioded the cameras and was still able to perdicted where he was going to commit the muder. Then i saw it, on camera 15#, it showed the shadows of the all the buildins in the area and the inter ally. but it didn’t show enough to see who was in those allys. The footage showed the building where Mark’s works and ontop of the building were five human like shadows. It seemed that the moon was full and high that night, lucky for me. Then something starnge happened, footage stopped for a good 30mintues. Then when it came back on the shadow figures were gone. It also happened to camera 10#, but it only cut off when Mark turned into the ally and only showed a light in the ally where we found Mark’s body. I contacted Aruther but he told me that the head of the secrity told me there was milfuction with the cameras but i didn’t beleive it. Later i went to take a look at Mark’s body. “Are we going to have Micheal Jackson Thriller?” I stated as she was checking her check book. “Funny, have a little respect for the dead please.” She stated angerly. I appalagized and asked. “Any details on our patient?” “Well my hunch was right, some how the killer was able to use something to cause the burns on his face. Also it seems he was searched after he was killed but we haven’t found any fingure prints or even a peice of hair.” she stated putting clipboard down and taking his body out. “What were they searching for and wher?” I asked questionly. Natalie took out her IPad and showed me all his tattoo that she took a picture of, from head to toe and it was wired looking at the attoos, incuding areas you think no persopn would want a tattoo. It looks like a ring or a eyeglass. “Was there any history behind this tattoo?” i asked. “Nope, nothing. I asked my sister who does tattoos but she said he has never seen that type of tattoos.” she answered. “Anything you found on his body?” I asked her. “Yes, i found multiple of tattoos on his body.” She answered as she handed me the IPad. I looked through it and they seems to be bows and arrows, nothing that gave me any clues on gangs or who he belonged to. I guess he was just a victum until i read the profile i finally got and this guy had a profile. When he was at the age of 8 he got caught smoking at least 5 different type of drugs, at the age of 10 he was caught selling the same drugs, including 5 other types of drugs, at 11 he was caught drinking stolen lquire, at 13 he lost both of his parents to accient then after got caught having sex with a girl by her father, who the girl was at the age of 15. He was put in juvy several times between the ages of 12 and 18, at 19 he was stealing cars, money from banks and drugs from gang Lords in the city, until he was arrested for 3yrs. At the age of 22, he was back to the usuall but all of sudden stopped and got married. No record of him doing anything after he was set free, just seems once he was out, he just dissapeard then reapeard with a wife and 2 children. The family of the wife is a part of one out of 7 wealthiest familys within the city. Then it accurd to me, did the family hired an hitman to kill him after shaming the family name for his crime records? Or was it to kill him so some other guy could have his wife and all the family’s forsion. So i investagted into her family and even went to her house to ask her some questions but it seems no one had a gruge agianst this man. Even his friends and ex-friends said he never really did anything bad for anyone to hate him. He smoked with friends, who of course over his age, drank behind bars, thanks to a few bucks where he got selling drugs, and slept with the girl only because she was his girlfriend at the time. If these rumors are true then what’s the rumor on stealing drugs from a gang Lord? No one could answer that question and his wife asked me not to look into it because she didn’t want the world to know what he used to be. I agreed and stopped but i didnd’t stop to find his killer. Seems to to beleif that the killer is another waco serial killers. As i was typing up my report and send and writing papers while answering plus reciving emails, i get a text from Nathalie that she found something strang with his body. I rushed over there after finishing some of my work, of course. “What did you find?” I asked bersting threw the double doors into her room. “I don’t know, you tell me. I send you the pictures.” She stated. “Yeah, i didn’t look at them. I was trying to finish up all my paper work before i head over here.” I stated. “In any case, look at this.” She stated as she gave me the IPad and what i saw was unbeliveable. Not only did our dead friend Mark had a lot tattoos that wasn’t on his body before or after his arrest, he also had some kind of writing on his bones in different areas. On his ribs, sternum and clavicle, “How the hell did he do this?” I asked. “I don’t ask me, i never seen or heard of this. This type of stuff should close if not impossible to do on an human body.” She stated. I tried to take a closer look at the writing but i couldn’t read it. “What language is this in? I can’t seem to read it” I asked. “I’ve tried to decode myself but to advail. I tried my big sisters but none of them could of decoded and that was all of us working together.” She stated. “If all of you combinded couldn’t decoed it then who can?” I asked but then as i finished my sentence James came in the room supriseitly. He never leaves his room of computer screans. “It’s tricky, i’ll give it that much.” James stated as he came in the lab. “I thought i never see the day when you’ll be out of your stentch.” Nathalie stated. “I know it’s an suprise but this code brought me to curiousaity when you guys couldn’t decoded it.” James stated. “You been spying on us, haven’t you?” I asked James with a smirk on my face. “Yes.” He stated. “So the meaning of you spying on us and leaving your room is that you figured out who the killer is? I atated. “Nope, i had to get out so they can clean my room and change the wiriong plus get me new hard drives up and running.” He stated. Nathalie and i looked at him like why are you here when you could be p[laying minecraft at starbucks. “Fine, truth is, i was able to desifer one peice of the code.” He stated as he hooked up his flash drive to Nathalie’s computer. “The only word I was decode somehow was the word was an archer.” He stated. “That’s all?” Nathalie asked. “So far, yes.” James stated. “How long will it take to decode all of it?” I asked James. “I wouldn’t know until everything in my room organized.” James stated. “Once you have the information send it to me also send me these pictures to my email.” I stated as I walked off. “where are you going?” Nathalie asked me. “those papers won’t get done by themselves ou know.” I stated before I walked through the double doors. Later that night I called my wife that I’ll be late home but she didn’t answer, strange but with what happened this morning I’m sure she’s busy with report papers from all of her classes. So I began the stack of papers that were on my desk, on the floor, in boxes and more as they came through my door. Why so many papers? Well since the chief is still a little bit under age to where he can’t do some of these papers, I have to do them since I’m the oldest senior member. But I am going to regret not taking the papers home that night. As I was finishing up my report on the day, James knocked on my door to say good night. “Night Micheal.” James stated and with a yawn I said my good nights too. James offered to help but once I told him to file these papers I had on a table for the morning because apparently I have to file them too, my door slammed. I give a little giggle and kept working. By the time I finished it was 3 in the morning, as I gathered my things and checked everything in my office was right where they needed to be for the morning I heard some kind of noise outside my office. I quietly got to my blinds and took a peek. I didn’t see anyone but my gut was telling me something was wrong. But I just thought it was me being dead ass tired, so I hurried up and finished. Once I finally got to the bottom floor I took a big drink from the water fountain because all elevators were down by 1am and I had to use the stairs, mind you I work on the 5th floor so you can imagen how thirsty I was. Once I was out of the building I locked up the door, got in my car and drove home. Once I got to the street my house was, something seemed off, we don’t have a garage, so my isn’t my wife’s car home? Then more questions came to mind, why didn’t Ryan take out the trash? why is the kitchen window open? Then all of the sudden I saw someone moving inside the house, so called the house number but no answer after five tries. I tried calling my wife but she didn’t answer either. to the worse, I called Author, thank heaven he picked up. I told him someone is in my house and once I said that he was already on his way and knowing him he is going to contact all station officers, Nathalie, and James to come to my house as back-up. I parked in a park near NeoLights street, the street I lived on. Once I was close to my house, I took out my gun and quietly went inside. Nothing seemed to look like it was touched and there was no sign of no one. So I moved upstairs, it was as silent as the grave. I moved to my room, opened the door and there was no one but then all of sudden I was pinned to the wall, with both my hands up and my mouth covered by a hand. I was ready to knee this person in the stomach until I saw his face. It was Author, he got here a lot faster than I thought he would talk about going pass the speed limit, I learned later that he was like race car getting over here. “What the hell dude, I could have shot you.” I stated whispering. “Good thing I got both your hands before you had a chance to shoot. So, anyone yet?” He whispered. “No, but doesn’t mean he or she isn’t here, check the guest’s room while I check the kid’s room. I whispered. We both went our ways. I opened the door very slow and quietly. I saw all them sleeping but then I saw something moved so I pushed the door completely and there he was. A figure standing over Ryan’s bed, I pointed my gun at him. “Get the hell away from them.” I ordered but before the figure was able to move, I was knocked out cold by something that hit me behind my head.