Twisted Horror Stories by Matthew Tonks

Category: Lies Of A Broken World

  • Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Six – Act IV

    Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Six – Act IV

    Gary and Davey get out of their cruiser and look at the mess in front of them.

    “So tell me again why we’re here instead of being back at the office filling out reports for Masters?” Davey asks.

    “Like I said, Danny called it in, apparently ERU’s were attending the scene when they discovered the bodies.”

    “And these bodies were dead before the accident?”

    “That’s why Danny called us in,” Gary replies as they make their way over to a large tent, once inside they see Danny and Sarah working over seven bodies laid out on tarpaulins. Danny looks up as they walk in.

    “Welcome to our kingdom,” Danny says.

    “Looks like a bad day for it,” Gary replies.

    “Only for these loyal subjects, and you two, by the looks of it.”

    “Don’t get me started, so what the fuck do we have?”

    “What we have is something very interesting indeed,” Danny says. “Before you are the bodies of seven young men, who all look as though they’ve been beaten to death, but that’s not interesting enough right? I’m glad you asked that question, these guys didn’t just get a beating, they also handed it out as well. From what we can tell from the preliminary results, these men, all of them, were fighters, they all show calluses on their knuckles and aged breaks in their hands. If I were to give you a speculative guess on their occupations bases on only what I’ve seen, it would be that they were all bare knuckle fighters.”

    “All of them?”

    “That would be my assumption, this one over here is a young man by the name of Kyle Mendeze, now if you don’t know who Mister Mendeze wa…”

    “He was an up and coming amateur boxer, pretty cluey, knew how to move.” Davey interrupts and both Gary and Danny look at him in surprise. “What? A man can’t have a hobby? I would’ve though you would’ve known who he was, considering this was your bread and butter back in the early days.”

    “I don’t find much time to indulge anymore, not how I’d like anyway.” Gary says.

    “Fuck Gary, I remember you had the meanest right hook I’d ever witnessed, it’s a pity you got old.”

    “It’s still there, waiting,” Gary says. “But now that we’ve had this awesome little walk down memory lane, can I direct the conversation back to the bodies, and in doing that I want to ask everyone a question. What we’re talking about, these kids and the fighting they’re doing, does it sound like these boys could’ve been involved in The Arena?”

    “It’s what I first thought as well, but I haven’t said it out loud until now.” Danny says.

    “The Arena, isn’t it just all a myth?” Davey says. “I mean, a fighting arena that takes place downtown where men battle to the death, all old and poetic shit, it just seems too glorified and glossy.”

    “Look at the bodies and tell me that maybe it’s not a possibility?” Gary says.

    “Hey, I’m not saying it’s not possible, I’m just saying it sounds insane.”

    “Do we have names and particulars on all of them?”

    “They’ve been updated in the case log, not a lot to read about sadly, nothing of any substance anyway. We also have the info for the driver, Milo Tankan, a small time junky who apparently was working clean up, but got too high and made the mess you see,” Danny replies.

    “Okay, we’ll see if we can shake a few trees and get a myth or two to fall out,” Gary says as he exits the tent and pulls out his phone, quickly dialling a number, Andrew Fontaine answers a few moments later.

    “He calls, and I answer, what can I do for you?” Fontaine says.

    “It’s what I can do for you, well not really, but I’ve got a challenge for you.”

    “You know just what to say at the right time, what are you after?”

    “The Arena.”

    “The Arena? Gary for fuck sake it’s like a myth downtown, and that’s all it is, there’s never been any proof that it actually exists and there never will be because it’s a myth.”

    “Well, I’ve got seven bodies here that might say differently.”

    “Seven bodies might also tell you shit, The Arena is a ghost,” Fontaine replies. “But don’t let that stop you from telling me about the bodies?”

    “Early this morning a van being driven by a junkie on some heavy shit caused a massive fuck me pile up, there were no survivors from any of the vehicles. When the ERU’s were able to get access they discovered the bodies in the back of the van and contacted us straight away. We’ve got nothing on any of these guys, all of them had steady jobs, no partners, nothing in common, only that fact that they’re all meat heads. So far we’ve turned up shit about where they train or anything else for that matter.”

    “So you were hoping maybe I might be able to find some info?”

    “Exactly, I’ve got shit Stapleton expects me to get done, so I won’t get any time on this case until the morning, but if you can do some ground work for me, it might help me start in the middle instead of the beginning.”

    “Send me everything you’ve got and I’ll see what I can come up with.”

    “I’ll shoot them over to you once I disconnect.”

    “Okay, I’ll buzz you back once I get something,” Fontaine says as he hangs up.

     

    #

     

    Her eyes open and she takes a large mouthful of air, and then screams.

    “Calm yourself child, all will be okay soon.”

    “Where the fuck am I?” she asks frantically, noticing her arms and legs are strapped down to the metal table, “What the fuck is going on?”

    “All that will be explain in great detail, but for now, you need to sleep some more my dear, we have many things to do together, you and I,” she feels something pierce her neck and then everything beings to spin uncontrollably into nothingness and unconsciousness.

     

    #

     

    Gary sits at his desk going over the paperwork for the Masters case, trying to make sure he captures all the information he can before it slips away into the recesses of his mind. But once again he finds himself distracted by the information on the bodies that were discovered earlier today in the van, and the desire to dig in and start trying to find the needle in the haystack, but he is pulled back to reality by an incoming call from Andrew Fontaine.

    “Fontaine, I hope you’ve got something we can use?”

    “Don’t I always, four of your boys trained at a Gym called Sabre, owned by, from what I can understand, a local legend by the name of Roland Biggs, apparently Biggs has some pretty high up friends, lots of back scratching goes on from what I can see with his accounts. I can’t tell you why he’s a legend though, information on him tells me he was a small time amateur fighter who was hailed as the next great champion, and then just disappeared off the radar and into obscurity. But all his personal accounts, traceable and non-traceable, tells me he’s got a shit load of credit value. Way more, than some never have been, should, in my opinion.”

    “You think he’s involved somewhere in something dirty, maybe this elusive Arena?”

    “He has all the signs, not necessarily The Arena, but he has signs of being dirty that’s for sure.”

    “But no real proof?”

    “Nothing, even Ghost couldn’t turn up anything bad in Biggs accounts.”

    “Which means he’s dirty.”

    “That’s what it typically means, no one is that clean.”

    “Well, I guess that means I should pay this Biggs a visit.”

    “Can you swing by my place first? Biggs isn’t going anywhere, and there’s someone I want you to meet, he could be of some help.”

    “Okay, give me half an hour.”

    “Sure, you know where I’ll be,” Fontaine says as Gary hangs up the phone and stares at the photos of the bodies.

    “Hey, Jackson, I didn’t deliberately listen in on your phone conversation, but did I hear you say the name, Roland Biggs?” A voice asks, Gary turns and faces Detective Sergeant Rick Parker, who sits a few desks away from him.

    “You know the name?”

    “Only from what I hear from my sources, why are you poking around about him anyway?”

    “Those bodies that were discovered earlier, they could be linked to an underground fighting organization that Biggs might be involved in.”

    “I’d keep that assumption to myself if I was you, Biggs is not the sort of guy you go around making accusations about, without proof, and it never ends well even if you do have it.”

    “You know this from your sources as well?” Gary says. “If he’s involved he’ll go down for it.”

    “Just saying, but you do what you have to do, just thought I’d give you a friendly warning, one that I’d listen to if I was you.”

    “It’s noted Parker, and ignored.”

    “Hey it’s your call, but don’t come knocking on my door when Divisional comes down on you for poking your nose into someone you shouldn’t be.”

    “You think he’s involved with someone in Divisional?”

    “I don’t think, I know,” Parker replies. “As I said, if you go after Biggs, prepare for a storm.”

     

    END OF CHAPTER SIX

  • Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Six – Act III

    Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Six – Act III

    Gary and Davey’s cruiser comes to a stop outside a large warehouse, they look at each other and back at the warehouse.

    “This looks exactly like the last two places,” Davey says.

    “We’ve got to check them all out, the sooner we locate Masters the better off everyone will be,” Gary says as he gets out of the cruiser, Davey follows him as they make their way into the warehouse. “Let keep it simple, just like last time, keep your commline open and check in regularly,” Davey nods his head to show he understands, and they both draw their blasters and head off in separate directions, slowly making their way through the building, checking each and every room for any signs of life.

    “South section clean,” Davey says over the commline.

    “I’ve got a few rooms left on my side,” Gary replies as he notices movement down the end of the corridor. “I’ve got movement!” Gary yells as he runs towards the location, a large cloaked figure leaps from out of the doorway and lands on Gary sending him sprawling to the ground.

    “What are you doing in my web said the spider to the fly?” the figure says as he pins Gary to the ground, Gary forces his feet up between them and drives the figure off him and scrambles to his feet, he spins around to emptiness.

    “I’m pretty sure I just made contact with Masters,” Gary says.

    “Don’t do anything stupid until I get there, I’ve called it in, so we should have some sort of back up soon,” Davey yells as he run towards Gary’s location.

    “I’ll try, but it might be out of my control,” Gary replies as the figure appears again from behind Gary and smashes him to the ground, and pulls him back to his feet, slamming him against the wall.

    “How do you know my name? Who are you?” Masters asks.

    “Detective Inspector Jackson, District-Three PD, and you’re fucked Masters!” Gary says. “We know you’re the fucker sending these people batshit crazy with that cocktail you’ve mixed up. Your little reign of insanity is over Masters, it would be a smart move for you to just come quietly, but if you don’t want to, that’s fine by me as well, because I’ve got a lot of tickets your arse has to pay.”

    “That’s not going to happen,” Masters says. “Why don’t you taste my sweets, they are to die for.” He sprays Gary in the face with a chemical solution, and Gary tears at his face as he feels his eyes burn. “The feeling will pass in a few moments, and then together, we will burn this world down, so you can make your move forward, and grab those dreams and removed all those who oppose you in this world.”

    Gary dives towards him and lets loose with a powerful right hook, that sends Masters crashing to the ground, but it only takes a second for him to be on his feet again.

    “You’ve obviously been dipping into your candy jar.”

    “Why are you still opposing me? I am the only voice you should hear now.”

    “Maybe you’re just not my type,” Gary says as he charges forwards and tackles Masters to the ground, but he’s quickly thrown to the side and Masters lets out a piercing, high pitched scream.

     

    #

     

    The van powers down the road at speeds well above the limit, and the hapless driver should be well aware of the dangers that could result from drawing undue attention to himself, but the drugs in his system right now sedate that care and the care of the dangers he could face if he was found with the van’s cargo. But for him that fear will never be a burden, as he is killed instantly as the van slams into the oncoming cars.

     

    #

     

    “You should be mine, why are you not?” Masters says as he pins Gary to the ground, Davey crashes through the door and fires his blaster repeatedly into Masters, sending him crashing to the ground. Almost instantly Masters springs back to his feet and turns, screaming at Davey, Gary takes the opportunity of the distraction and lunges up and drives a hard-light blade up into his chest, he lets out another cry, this one of pain, and backhands Gary across the room.

    “You have heard my cry, you have tasted my sweets, why are you not mine?” he says, Gary pulls himself to his feet and spits out a mouthful of blood.

    “Because I’m already living my fucking dream life,” Gary says as he lays a powerful right and then a left across Masters’ face sending him to the ground in a heap, Davey tosses Gary his blaster and Gary places it to Masters’ head.

    “It’s impossible h…” it’s then Masters notices the plugs in Gary’s ears and it answers his question.

    “Let’s see if you’re as tough as your monsters,” Gary says as he fires several shots from his blaster at point blank range, removing Masters’ head. Gary falls to his knees and drops the blaster to the ground and Davey is quickly to his side.

    “Are you ok?”

    “I feel like shit, you can tell Jones his little cocktail worked a treat, although I’m pretty sure I’m going to need the bathroom real soon.”

    “Don’t worry big guy the mediVan will be here in a few minutes,” Davey says as he sits next to his partner. “Can I ask you something?”

    “What?”

    “Do you ever get sick of this?”

    “Sick of what?”

    “Sick of this, sick of fighting against a system that’s supposed to help us, a system where our own are dirtier than the criminals we’re trying to put away.”

    “A long time ago, I hate to say this, but you become a little blind to it, you just do the best you can and make sure every fucker who comes before you pays their price.”

    “Like Masters here.”

    “That piece of shit didn’t deserve ice.”

    “And others do?”

    Gary looks at Davey a little concerned, but relaxes his look after a few tense moments, “Everyone deserves their time of judgment, sometimes it’s your decision and other times you leave it up to those upstairs.”

    “When do you know which way to go?”

    “When you have your blaster in your hand and they’re sitting at your feet, instinct will make the decision for you. If they live to face the judgment uptown, then so be it.”

     

    END OF ACT III

     

  • Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Six – Act II

    Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Six – Act II

    “Tell me you’ve got something?” Gary says as he walks into the labs department of District-Three.

    “I’ve got a couple of things,” Jones says. “The card you recovered from Anna Withers gave us two massive pieces of the puzzle, firstly we recovered a partial print from the card that is not Miss Withers’, I’m running it through every database we have access to, so far we’ve got thirty-five partial matches, so we’re just reconfiguring the search to see if we can bring the list down to a manageable number. Secondly, the card contained the usual chemicals all the other cards have, but we found a small amount of MDR-Thirty-Seven on this one.”

    “You’re fucking kidding me? MDR-Thirty-Seven’s a weapon grade chemical, why the fuck haven’t we picked this up earlier?”

    “I tell you why, the chemicals when combined create a sort of nuclear cocktail, the MDR-Thirty-Seven is the first chemical to be absorbed into the skin, then the others. So it stands to reason that we would not pick it up as we’ve been testing the blood for chemicals, but because this is absorbed into the skin and spreads throughout the flesh, it doesn’t show up on blood tests,” Jones says. “With that in mind I went back and ran a check on all the other bodies, and they all came back positive. In fact, Mores readings were off the charts, as was Gillings, the woman whose head you caved in earlier this morning.”

    “Anna referred to this Doctor Hide as a him, so we know our suspect is male, she said he was persuasive and that his words touched her deeply, could there be some connection to this and the chemicals on the card as well?”

    “I’ve been thinking about that since you mentioned it earlier, three of the twelve drugs in the cocktail have been used in the past to assist with hypnotherapy treatment, regressing patients back to distressing or traumatic events, in a way to try and help them move past it. Maybe he’s using the drugs to assist him in maintaining some sort of control over the victims through subliminal messages he gives them when they touch the card and take a hit of the cocktail?”

    “How the fuck would he be doing that?”

    “Any number of ways, voice manipulation would be the most obvious way, two of the chemicals used in the cocktail alter the inner ears equilibrium,” Jones replies. “He would possibly be using some sort of synthesiser that would be altering his voice to such a level his words would be coming through your brain like you were the one thinking it rather than hearing it.”

    “What can we do to combat any of this?”

    “So far we know that prolonged exposure leads to terminal meltdown, but as we found out with our infected lab tech, Simmons, if we can get to the effected person sooner, rather than later, we can in a way control the chemicals effects on the body and in fact reverse those effects. Plus I also have a theory that if I work with the sirum that we’ve used on Simmons we might even be able to possibly work on some sort of vaccine, it would be just getting the dosage of the initial cocktail correct so we can counter balance it. But it would have to be something that could be administered every few hours or so as the body reguarly cleans itself of toxins, and there’s always a slight chance a vaccine could cause other issues as well.”

    “How long would it take for you to come up with this vaccine?”

    “A few hours maybe, we already have a good working base.”

    “As soon as you have something let me know,” Gary says. “Can I have the list of the potential suspects and a copy of the partial? I’ll pass it on to a few outside sources to see if they can help bring the list down.”

    “I’ll pass the information to your case file,” Jones replies. “If we get anything workable with this vaccine, I’ll contact you straight away.”

     

    #

     

    Deep below in the depths of downtown, where the old city meets the new, as the past and the present clash in a blend of what has been and what is, reveals another horror that has been in existence for countless years, The Arena. Rumours have floated around about the underground fighting syndicate that moves throughout the underbelly of the city, never staying too long in one place and never being found, making it a myth more than a reality for many of the city’s residents, if they only knew that this myth was true, would they be more careful where they venture?

    The man hits the ground with a thud, his face busted open, slowly he tries to get to his feet but only manages to get to his knees, the crowd cheers with excitement as he is dealt a powerful right to the head that sends him crashing to the ground again, he convulses for a few moments and then goes silent and still, the crowd gets louder as Roland Biggs celebrates another win in his arena.

    “Another challenger lays defeated at the feet of our champion Roland Biggs, with this victory Roland now stands at an outstanding one thousand and three wins and zero losses, who out there dares take the challenge, who thinks they can take the prize and defeat the undefeatable, is it you and more importantly will you have the choice to refuse?” a voice says over the PA system.

    “NO!” the crowd screams back as the body of the man is dragged out of the arena.

     

    #

     

    Gary’s phone rings and he quickly answers it, Andrew Fontaine appears on the other end.

    “I got a hit on one of your boys.”

    “You’re fucking kidding me?” Gary says. “We’ve only managed to bring the list down to 20 how the fuck can you have it down to one?”

    “I’ve got sources you guys don’t have.”

    “Ghost, I presume?”

    “If you need something deep and dark on someone, and if it exists, Ghost will find it.”

    “So, who are we looking at?”

    “Nathaniel Masters.”

    “Masters? He was removed from our list,” Gary says as he pulls his files up. “He didn’t fit any of the criteria matches we were after, no history in chemistry and from what his files say he’s been in New London for the past three years.”

    “No fucking way has he ever been in New London, the fucker has never left Delta City,” Fontaine says. “I can also tell you he’s got shitloads of experience in chemistry as well. For fifteen years he was a geochemist team leader at Tiracom, his department was primarily concerned with testing and developing a large array of drugs to be utilised in mind reconditioning. But to answer why he was removed from your list would be because someone within Divisional wants him left off the list, I’ll point the finger at Franklin Rodgers, there was a lot of contact between the two eight months ago and last month a shit load of credits moved into his account, coincidently the same day all of the Districts files on Masters disappeared from the system, of course, nothing is really ever gone when The Ghost gets involved.”

    “Can you send me all the data you have?”

    “I’ll drop it in your box, along with known locations where Masters could be.”

    “You just saved us a large fucking waste of time.”

    “Always here to help, you need an extra body?”

    “No, we’ve got it covered, I’ll talk soon,” Gary says as he hangs up and turns to Davey, who obviously overheard the whole conversation, no words are said between the two as they head out of the office and jump into their cruiser.

    “You’re sure we keep it between us?”

    “You heard Fontaine, this guy has Divisional protecting him, and Rodgers would’ve never worked alone. He is a subpar Detective, a pretty boy sucking and fucking the bigger fish to keep afloat. If we want a chance to stop him it’s now, and Jones seemed pretty happy with the results from his tests for the vaccine, and we’ve got a good few hours before this dosage runs through our systems, so I say we just run with it while we have a chance without involving anyone else.”

    “You make way too much sense sometimes, it scares me.”

    “Shut the fuck up and tell me where we’re going first?”

     

    END OF ACT II

     

  • Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Six – Act I

    Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Six – Act I

    Gary slams a fist into the wall and lets out a cry of frustration, sprawled out on the ground before him lays the body of a woman, a greenish ooze flows from what is left of her head.

    “Are you okay?” Davey asks nursing a dislocated shoulder, his face bruised and bloody.

    “I’d be a lot fucking better if we could find this bastard, all we’ve got out of this is the same fucking scenario and no leads except the fucking card we keep finding on the victims and proxamine-twelve,” Gary says as he hobbles towards the doorway, sirens can be heard closing in towards them. “We’ve got bodies building up, people wiping out their families and anyone else they’ve ever associated with and all we can do is sit on our arse and react after the scenario restarts. We need to get in at the beginning, before our victim changes, then maybe we would have a chance at stopping this fuck.”

    “How the fuck are we supposed to do that?” Davey says as cruisers pull up in front of them as well as several mediVan’s and, of course, the media not far behind. Gary looks at Davey who reads his mind immediately, “Don’t!”

    “Use the leeches, make them do the work for you,” Gary says as he storms off, past the incoming officers and paramedics and straight towards Mandy Holmes, who is in the process of setting up for her report. “Mandy, do you want the interview of your career?” He calls out.

    “Are you fucking serious?”

    “Roll your cameras now, because I’m about to make your day.”

    Mandy quickly instructs her cameraman to begin recording, “This is Mandy Holmes live from the latest….” Gary pushes her to the side and stares down the barrel of the camera.

    “My name is Detective Inspector Gary Jackson, from District-Three, tonight we, I, need your help to stop this shit. I’m going to put it as basic as I can so you will all understand. If you, or anyone you know is approached by someone offering a job and the chance to live out all your dreams, I urge you to contact Delta District-Three straight away,” Gary says. “At this very moment, out there in the city, there’s a creature preying on the lost and unfulfilled citizens of Delta City. This thing is out there offering people the world for a price, and the price as we have found out is their sanity. So far we know a drug is triggering these psychotic breaks and it is somehow administered initially through a card that looks on the surface like a normal business card, but this card is lethal. I urge anyone who comes across one of these card to avoid touching it if you can and contact us immediately. Over the course of our investigation we’ve already lost one of our forensic investigators to the effects of this card, and it’s not pretty. This person, and I use the word person loosely, has already infected nine victims with this designer drug, and these nine victims have killed to date, one hundred and twenty-five innocent people in total, people who love them, people who were their flesh and blood, their family. I urge you to make contact before it’s too late, don’t let this piece of shit destroy your life and the lives of your loved ones as well.”

    With that Gary walks back to awaiting paramedics. Mandy turns back to the camera, and for a few moments says nothing as she tries to collect her thoughts.

    “You heard it here first, Delta District-Three is reaching out to you the viewer to help bring this latest threat to an end, once we have more you will hear it here first, back to you Tom.”

     

    #

     

    Gary and Davey walk into District-Three’s offices to a standing ovation, “For fuck sake, cut it out,” Gary says, the next person he lays eyes on is Superintendent Stapleton.

    “You two, get the fuck in my office now!” Gary and Davey follow him into his office and quickly close the door. “Would one of you please for the love of fucking god explain to me which one of you idiots had the stupid idea of passing on information to the press about your current fucking case? And yes it is a trick fucking question.”

    “Davey had no idea what I was doing sir, it was all me.”

    “That’s not true sir, I knew what he was doing, and I agreed with it.”

    “For fuck sake, do you know how much damage you’ve caused? Commissioner Gleeson called me personally and told me to pull my men in line or he will find someone who will,” Stapleton says. “I’m not going to let two fucking cowboys derail my career, so next time you get a stupid fucking idea like that Jackson, you treat it as such and ignore it.”

    “Of course sir, I’ll make sure any stupid ideas in the future are ignored.”

    “Don’t be a smart arse, just get this god damned case solved and do what the city pays you to do instead of making me look like a fucking dick. Now get out of here before I lose my shit any more than I already have!” They make their way out of the office and to their desks, where a young girl waits.

    “Can I help you?” Gary asks.

    “I saw you on the news,” she says as she scratches her arm nervously.

    “A lot of people did, we’ve received thousands of phone calls so far. If there’s anything you feel you need to pass on to us about the case, you can give your information at the front desk.”

    “I’ve seen him, the guy you’re after, he calls himself Doctor Hide.”

    “Doctor Hide?”

    “That’s what he calls himself, he approached me last night and gave me a big speech about helping me free myself from my weights and giving me a new future, he was really fucking persuasive, I mean really persuasive.”

    “Did he give you a card?”

    “I brought it in,” she says as she places a card on Gary’s desk.

    “Davey, get Jones up here now!” Gary says and turns his attention back to the girl, blood runs down her arm, as she tears at the open wound. “Go easy there Miss,” He says as he grabs a tissue from the desk and hands it to her, she presses it against her arm.

    “It’s intoxicating, the feel of it all you know, I just want to kill everyone, free myself, his words really touched me,” she says looking at the card the entire time, her hand slowly reaches for the card, but Gary grabs her arm tightly.

    “I think you should leave the card there,” he says, she forces her hand free and grabs the card.

    “Don’t you tell me what to do, I’m sick of everyone telling me what to do!” She yells, the look in her eyes is of pure hate, a look Gary has become used to over the last week.

    “It’s okay, you hold on to it, but why don’t you sit down while we get someone to take down your details and I’ll have a doc take a look at your arm, it seems like a nasty laceration,” she slowly takes a seat, her eyes transfixed on Gary, burning his flesh almost.

    “I saw you on the news, I saw you trying to take my dream away, and I knew I had to kill you as well as everyone else,” she says as she pulls a blade and dives at Gary, two shots rip into the side of her head and sends her lifeless body crashing to the ground, Davey stands a few feet away, his blaster still trained on the girl.

    “You okay?”

    “I had it under control.”

    “It sure looked like you did,” Davey says as he lowers his blaster.

     

    END OF ACT I

     

  • Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Five – Act IV

    Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Five – Act IV

    Gary enters ‘Dave’s Wonderland Holosuite’ and walks up to the counter where a young girl is standing, she greets him with a smile.

    “Hi, is there anything I can help you with?” she asks.

    “Yeah I hope so, I’m Detective Inspector Gary Jackson with District-Three,” Gary replies, showing his badge. “I was wondering if you can help me out with a problem I am having, I have these two holosim’s and was wondering if you worked last night or you can put me in touch with whoever did.”

    “Normally we’re not allowed to give out information on any of our customers or fellow staff members, but I guess you would be an exception.”

    “That would be great,” Gary replies as he looks out the window of the shop as a car smashes through it and into the shop, sending Gary crashing into the counter. He scrambles to his feet quickly a lets out a groan of frustration, he turns to the girl behind the counter. “Are you okay?”

    “I think so,” she replies.

    “Get out of here and keep on running,” Gary says as he pulls his blaster out of its holster.

    “I wouldn’t do that if I were you?” a voice says, Gary turns to see a man standing next to the wreckage of the car. “Sorry I’m late for my shift, I had things to do, people to kill, you know how it is,” Maddox says with a smile.

    “I don’t give a fuck what you do right now as long as you don’t fucking move!”

    “That’s not going to happen, you see, I want to destroy all I have, and if I do that, I can have all I want.”

    “What the fuck are you talking about?”

    “Overkill, you see, I could’ve quit here and just left my partner and started again, but where’s the fun in that? Overkill leaves no real messy holes from my past, all it does is tightly wrap up everything, so nothing can slip out and spoil my dreams.”

    ‘Is the world going fucking insane?’ Gary rushes towards Maddox with his blaster trained on him. “I have no time to fuck around, so why don’t you get on the fucking ground and make this easier on both of us,” Maddox launches himself at Gary, who quickly fires several shots into Maddox’s chest, but he keeps on coming.

    ‘This cannot be happening again?’ Gary takes the full brunt of Maddox attack, and it only takes several strikes for Maddox to send Gary’s bloody and beaten body to the floor.

    “How pathetic,” Maddox says as Gary slips into unconsciousness. “Now about that resignation,” he says, turning his attention to the frightened attendant.

     

    #

     

    “You’re fucking kidding me? He skinned them while they were alive?” Davey says in shock.

    “No doubt about it, they were definitely alive when they were skinned, I haven’t the faintest idea what he did with the skin, but the trauma produced shows they were alive and awake when it happened,” Danny replies.

    “What the fuck could make someone do something like that?”

    “I’m not finished, you haven’t heard the most disturbing part,” Danny says. “We’ve got positive identifications on both victims, the one on the right was his sister and the one on the left was his ex-wife.”

    “Fuck me, this guy fucking skinned his own sister, I mean I can understand the ex-wife, but his sister?” Davey says. “I’ll contact Gary and let him know.”

    “Detective Sergeant, we might need you out here?” an officer calls from the courtyard outside, Davey quickly heads out of the unit and towards where the officers are standing.

    “Can we make this quick,” Davey says.

    “That’s a negative sir, we followed your instructions and were trying to get a time frame of the suspect’s movements, and we found this,” the officer motions for Davey to follow him into a unit, Maddox Jensen’s unit.

    “Oh for crying out loud, fuck me,” Davey says as he stands over the young girls remains.

     

    #

     

    Gary comes back to reality in pain and slowly gets to his feet, coughing violently until he spits out a large wad of blood on to the ground before him, “FUCK!” He wipes the remaining saliva from his mouth and quickly scans the remains of the destroyed store, and lets out a groan of disappointment when he spots the body of the young female attendant laying a few feet away from the door. He staggers over to her body and checks her pulse, it’s all but gone and she lets out a grimace of pain, he frantically searches the surrounding area for Maddox, but there is no sign of him anywhere.

    “This is Jackson, I’m in need of assistance at my current location.”

    “What is the nature of your situation detective inspector?”

    “I have one casualty who requires urgent assistance, and get some bodies down here because I’ve got another nut job going ballistic like the one from last night at Park Side.”

    “Understood, assistance is on its way to your location, hold tight.”

    Gary runs his hands through her hair, “Don’t worry you’re going to make it.”

    “You know she won’t live much longer, they will never make it in time so why lie to her?” a voice says from behind him, Gary swings around and pulls out his blaster repeatedly firing at Maddox’s head, all the shots hit their target but Maddox still stands, with a smile on his face.

    Gary lowers his blaster and flicks the override switch, the few moments he needs for the blaster to get to maximum charge seem like forever, the similarities to the case from earlier are astounding, but he can’t help but think that there is more of a connection here than meets the eye, and he needs to survive this so he can get the chance to solve it all and put a stop to whatever or whoever is turning these ordinary innocent victims into killing machines.

    “Why do all this, what is in it for you?” Gary asks.

    “This is not like your typical movie, you are not Stacy Keach in Mike Hammer, and you will not walk away with the case solved and the girl in your bed. I’ll not tell you all my reasons while you try to think of a way to stop me. I’m simply going to send you to your death, knowing nothing more than you do now,” with that Maddox dives at Gary, with the grace of someone half his size Gary manoeuvre’s himself and Maddox into position and both crash to the ground, Gary’s blaster wedged deep within Maddox’s mouth, it’s then that the blaster shrieks with a warning as it announces its charge has passed safety levels and into the danger zone. Maddox’s smiles like a crazy man spurring Gary to pull the trigger.

    “Let’s see if you’ve got a cast iron stomach,” Gary says as he pulls the trigger, and the violent blast thrusts itself into Maddox’s mouth, ripping his head apart. After a few moments of silence, Gary forces Maddox’s body off him and gets to his feet, but he falls straight back to his knees, his hand shattered and ripped to pieces from the blast, he stuffs it into his jacket and forces himself back up again. He can hear the sounds of sirens getting closer and he stumbles over to the girl’s now lifeless body and collapses by her side. He stares upward as he feels his heart beating hard in his chest, he hears Davey’s voice yelling his name just before the darkness takes him.

     

    #

     

    “How the fuck do you know my name?” The girl asks the large towering figure.

    “That is of no importance Kylie, what is important is that I know you long for release, I know you feel your life is not your own. You’re living up to what your parents want you to be, what your lover needs you to be, when all you really want to be is free of all of these things and live your life to your own drum. I can offer you that freedom, I can give you that escape. And all you have to do is join my employment, and I promise that tomorrow will be the first day of your new life, and all those who are in your way will simply not exist,” Hide says.

    “How do I know you’re not some weirdo looking to get into my pants?”

    “My dear, that is far from my intention, please take my card and think about it, tomorrow we will talk, but be quick my dear the position is only open for a short time and I would hate for you to miss your chance” Hide says as he holds out his card, Kylie stands there for a few moments before she takes the card from him.

     

    END OF CHAPTER FIVE

  • Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Five – Act III

    Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Five – Act III

    Maddox walks into the kitchen, and a girl, not much older than him sits at the table eating, the look he gets is one of disappointment.

    “You came in late last night,” the girl says.

    “Things happened, some guy stopped at the store last night and offered me a job,” Maddox replies.

    “What sort of job?” she asks.

    “He didn’t tell me a lot, but by the sounds of it, it could be exactly what I’ve always wanted.”

    “What do you mean by that?” she replies. “Do you know anything?”

    “Well not really, but he said he’ll give me some time to think it over, and if I want to take his offer then he’ll tell me everything I need to know.”

    “Sounds like fucking crap if you ask me, maybe he was trying to crack onto you?” she says. “Did he have his hand in his pocket while he was talking to you?”

    “Would you pretend to be happy for me, for fucking once?” Maddox says angrily as he thrusts the table away and gets to his feet, it’s at that moment that Maddox’s phone rings and he quickly answers it.

    “Hello, Maddox have you decided on what you will do?” Hide asks on the other end of the line.

    “I’ll take it, anything’s better than this,” Maddox spews forth with confidence and anger. “When do you want me to start?”

    “My friend, you started last night, when you accepted my card,” Hide replies as the phone disconnects. Maddox stands there for some time, he places a hand into his pocket and feels the card, the bumps covering the card seemed strange last night, but now they feel comforting, his eyes, gazing off into nothingness.

    “Who was that on the phone?”

    “No one,” Maddox replies as he slowly walks back to the table.

    “What the fuck is wrong with you now?” she asks, in a fluid movement, Maddox grabs a knife from the table and rips it across her throat, she sits there in shock as blood begins to spew forth from the wound, then in a desperate bid of urgency she launches herself off her seat grabbing at her throat, crashing to the ground violently. Maddox slowly gets to his feet and walks towards her, his eyes red with blood, his face twisted with anger and the knife still in his hand.

     

    #

     

    “Guys name was Jamie Mores, has a clean sheet, hardly fucking anything on it at all that would tell us he was the same guy we took down today,” Gary says as he looks over Jamie Mores file.

    “Seriously this guy just got up and decided he was going to go and kill everyone he knew?” Davey asks.

    “Beats the fuck out of me, but whatever happened to him turned this little pastry chef into a walking missile,” Gary replies. “The Café was his place of work, apparently yesterday he came in, did his shift as normal and left, no incidents happened, no arguments, apparently he was his normal quiet self, and then ‘BANG’ fucker killed everyone. Danny has given us the prelim toxicology report and has come across some unusual levels of a drug called proxamine-twelve in his system, it’s a white blood cell booster. According to Danny, no matter what levels of proxamine-twelve were in someone’s system, it would never affect anyone in this way, so he’s ruled that out, otherwise the guy was clean.”

    “So if it wasn’t some rage drug that caused the mental breakdown, what the fuck was it?”

    “Guess that’s what we’ve got to find out.”

    “Okay then, I guess we should pack our bags and venture off to the magical land of OZ and see if the all-knowing wizard can help us.”

    “What if we just went and had a look around his apartment first, before we go down that road.”

    “Okay, that can work too.”

     

    #

     

    Maddox stands over his former partner’s now bloody body, the knife dripping her blood from its blade, “What the fuck did I do?”

    “You have begun the journey,” a voice replies from behind him, Maddox spins around to face Hide.

    “How the fuck did you get in here? What the fuck did you do to me?”

    “I have given you your freedom Maddox, and now is the time for you to burn all that you were and become all you can be,” Hide says as he sprays a liquid into Maddox’s face, the liquid burns his eyes and renews the fire in his belly, and only one thought enters his mind ‘All life must pay now.’

     

    #

     

    “We’re not in Kansas anymore are we?” Davey asks.

    “Kansas? Fuck I don’t think we’re on earth anymore, this guy definitely had problems,” Gary says as he slowly picks through all the mess of Jamie Mores living room.

    “Our job would be so much easier if he wasn’t such a messy fucker.”

    “Hey, you heard the same thing I did, according to most people who knew him he was a neat freak. Always had to have everything clean and then we come here, and his place is the biggest shithole you’ve ever seen, don’t you think it’s all a little strange?”

    “False perceptions are always made you know that, people always make judgments on how they see someone. You know shit like, he was such a nice guy until he butchered seventeen people with the butter knife. The problem with perception is you can make people see you however you want.”

    “Yeah, but for everyone to say the same thing, you normally have one or two who come out with, I never trusted the shifty fucker, and the landlord was a bit surprised about the mess, he said Jamie was his star tenant. This just seems way too out of the box, there is just something we’re missing.”

    “People change.”

    “But so quickly and by so much, I really think there’s more here than what we’re seeing, something happened to Jamie, something bad,” Gary says as he opens the bathroom door, more of the same mess, the sink and bath, both full of dirty water.

    “Well, you might want to come see this!” Davey yells, Gary quickly makes his way into the bedroom where Davey is, and before them, on the bed, is what looks like the remains of two women, both have been skinned and left to rot.

    “This is just getting fucking weirder,” Gary says. “Call in the meat wagon, tell Danny we have some new friends for him to play with.”

    “On it!” Davey replies as he grabs his commline.

    Gary continues to look around the apartment, coming across a whole stack of holosim games, ‘This guy was obviously a dreamer, I can never understand the reason people waste their lives away playing holosim’s.’

    He notices a bag sitting on a table next to some food, as well as several receipts, he picks one up and looks it over, they are both from last night.  He peaks into the bag which contains two holosim’s from a nearby holosuite. The two locations are on a direct path towards the café from where he is standing.

    “Davey, wait for Danny to arrive, and get a group of officers to help you canvas the rest of the units around here and see if anyone saw or heard anything last night. I’m going to go over to ‘Dave’s Wonderland Holosuite’ and ‘Captain Burgers’ to see if anyone can remember him coming through last night, maybe something took place along the way, or something, anything.”

    “You don’t want company?”

    “I’ve got this one, might be nothing, but it doesn’t hurt to go have a look.”

     

    END OF ACT III

  • Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Five – Act II

    Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Five – Act II

    Maddox closes the store up for the night and slowly walks to his parked car, he stops and lights up a cigarette and takes a deep drag, his life seems so much more pathetic at these times, the enjoyment he once held for his life seems distant and unreachable to him. He takes another drag and sits on the ground next to his car, suddenly standing before him is a large man in a long black cloak, and Maddox jumps a little, more in surprise than fear.

    “Sorry, you’re too late we’re closed,” Maddox says as he takes another drag.

    “I’m not here for your pathetic games Maddox Jensen, I’m here to offer you the chance to make all your dreams come true.”

    “Well you’re too late for that as well,” Maddox replies sarcastically. “How the fuck do you know my name anyway?”

    “How I know what I know is of no consequence Maddox, but believe me, it’s never too late for anything my young friend, time means nothing when dreams are involved.”

    Maddox laughs, “Unless you’ve a magic wand, I don’t want to hear it,” Maddox says as he gets to his feet.

    “I have no magic wand, but I have a magic of a kind, one that can help you free yourself from all your trappings.”

    “I don’t have time for this.”

    “Time is something you are slowly running out of for everything Maddox, and the more you use wasting it on your pathetic existence the further away your dreams slip.”

    “What’s in this for you then, if all this shit you’re spewing is for real?”

    “Maddox my young friend, the truth is that I’m about to have an opening arise for a strong, determined young man, and you’re just the person I’m looking for. If you agree to join my employment, I will not only help you grip hold of all those dreams you want, help you make your little games that you so desperately need to make. But I will free you from the trappings of your life so you can win over the girl you desire and rid yourself of the one that sucks your very soul away.”

    “How do you know these things?”

    “As I said Maddox, you don’t need to know that, all you need to know about is I can make your life better,” the man says. “Why don’t we go somewhere a little quieter, where we can talk a little more freely?” Maddox looks around the deserted car park and turns back to the man.

    “Why not here?” Maddox says. “There’s no one around.”

    “Don’t believe your eyes Maddox, let’s go for a drive, I’m sure once you hear what I have to say you won’t be disappointed,” the man says as he holds his arm out towards Maddox’s car.

    “Okay, but I don’t feel comfortable about this, so I hope your offer is as good as it sounds,” Maddox says as he opens his car door and climbs in and the man climbs in the passenger side. “What do I call you anyway?”

    “I have a few names, but you can call me Hide.”

     

    #

     

    “Okay, Davey I’m ready!” Gary yells as he braces himself for whatever Davey has planned, suddenly the DRS’s Tactical Response Tank, rips through the side of the building and crashes into the man, sending him crashing to the ground with a thud. For several moments everything seems dead quiet, and Gary slowly pokes his head out from around the counter.

    “Davey Boy, you okay?”

    “I’m good, this thing can take a hit and keep on ticking, and I’d say he is out for the count?” Davey replies. “Can you get a visual?”

    Gary slowly gets to his feet and looks around the destroyed café, it doesn’t take him long to spot the lifeless body of the maniac, lying a few feet from the tank. “Looks that way,” Gary says as he slowly makes his way towards the body, Davey opens the tank’s door and climbs out, both have their weapons trained on the body and they both give each other a quick reassuring look before Gary slowly reaches towards the body. Suddenly he springs back to life and throws Gary violently back over the counter and sends Davey flying onto the hood of the tank with a crash and leaps to his feet.

    “You’re still trying to kill me as if I am a man, but you have no way of stopping me!” He screams as he looks over to Davey, who is still sprawled across the front of the tank. Gary scrambles to his knees, he can feel the warmth of the blood pouring from a wound to his head, and his left arm feels like it’s broken in several places, he lets out a small groan as he forces his arm to move, suddenly he freezes as his vision begins to realign on a canister in front of him.

    “Davey, I’ve got something, but it’s going to be messy if it works, get your arse under some cover because you’re going to need it!” Gary yells as he rips the gas cylinder from underneath the service counter. “I hope you’re out of the way!” He yells as he jumps up and launches the gas cylinder at the maniac, then in another fluid motion he fires several shots into the canister as it smashes into his face. The speed in which it happens allows no time for any of them to prepare for the explosion, and Gary crashes down, behind the counter as the huge explosion rips through the maniac and half of the building, several minutes pass until movement finally begins.

    “Fuck,” Gary says as he gets unsteadily to his feet.

    “Man they are going to be cleaning him off of everything, for at least a week,” Davey says as he wipes blood and body parts from his face, the rest of his uniform covered in pieces of the man.

    “Not to mention how many times you’re going to have to shower to get all the pieces out of your hair,” Gary says as he gives Davey the once over.

    “How the fuck did you manage to not get covered in any of the waste?”

    “Experience, Davey, can’t beat experience, something you’ll learn in time.”

     

    END OF ACT II

     

  • Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Five – Act I

    Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Five – Act I

    Once the world of TV was enjoyed from a seat placed in front of it, then the TV screen advanced in to a hologram screen that could be viewed from any angle. Now shows are not watched, they are experienced, and you become part of it all playing any character you wish, and taking the show in any direction you want. The world of holosim is where everyone finds their entertainment, anywhere and everywhere you can find shops dedicated to supplying customers with endless selections of material to waste their days, weeks or even years.

    “So is there anything good out? You know, something that will knock my socks off, I’m really into the old stuff, anything that puts me in the nineteen nineties, is the stuff I really relate to. Fuck, you know, I wish I was born back then, it would’ve been an awesome time, low tech as, but fuck man, the world was kicking back then,” the man asks the awkward looking assistant behind the counter.

    “Umm, we’ve got nothing in at the moment that would suit what you’re after, I mean, we’ve got a couple of new ones that arrived today, but nothing I would recommend. Everything’s aimed at reliving the old TV shows these days, more gameplay compared to a closed story line like the movies. One of our customers has spent two years so far in a holosim based on an old TV show, and he doesn’t look like he’s coming out anytime soon.”

    “Two fucking years? That’s insane. Unfortunately I’ve got a life, a job and a wife, holosim’s based on movies are what works for me, two days off and I just let the trip take me and a nice shot of FrezzH1 too of course,” he says with a smile. “Anyway holosim’s based on old TV shows are shit, they have such low budgets that they all look B grade, it makes me fucking sick to the stomach, no shit. I tried playing a holosim of some old TV a few years ago and only lasted three hours before I threw up, and I swore I never would try them again.”

    “You’re talking about holosim’s from years ago, they’ve improved shitloads since then, trust me when I say this, you’re missing out.”

    “Yeah well, for now, I’ll make do with the classics,” The man says as he hands the attendant four game cards. “I’ll just take these four,” the attendant quickly scans the cards and hands them back to the customer.

    “Ok, your loss, I’ll see you next time, enjoy the gameplay.”

    “Cheers,” the customer replies as he leaves the store.

    The attendant looks around the now deserted store, and he slowly walks around from the counter and up to the window and looks out. His eyes show his disappointment, not just in his job, but in his life, Maddox Jensen was going to be more than this, he swore by the time he turned twenty-five, he would’ve done something for himself instead of others. But, as always he feels all he has ever done is things for everyone else, and nothing for himself. He thinks about the holosim scripts he has sitting behind the counter, he knows they would easily beat anything the store has to offer, but no one is willing to give him the chance to show the world what he is made of and what he can create. He lets out a sigh and makes his way back to the counter as two more customers make their way into the store, he gives them a fake smile and they smile back.

    “Anything new in?” one of them ask him.

     

    #

     

    “Ok we have to form some sort of plan here,” Gary says. “Why don’t we punch a fucking hole through the wall and just take the asshole out?”

    “That would be a big no Jackson, we could be endangering any hostages still alive in there, if we mess up they’re all going to be dead,” the DRS (Delta Divisional Special Response Squad) Commander William Sykes replies quickly.

    “I don’t think it will matter that much if we sit here any longer, the fucker has not asked for anything and continues to randomly kill hostages every few minutes, I say we crash his party and take him out.”

    “I understand what you’re saying, and I can see how doing it your way would get a result, but it’s not protocol, and on my watch we follow protocol,” Sykes replies back. A salvo of shots rip from within the café suddenly and tear into officers and vehicles alike, then as quickly as the attack started, it stops.

    “I’m taking the arsehole down now with or without you,” Gary says as he gets to his feet and rushes towards the building. He only manages to get several feet before blaster fire forces him to dive for cover.

    “What the fuck are you doing?” Davey’s voice yells over his commline.

    “Sykes is pissing his pants, so I’m putting this shit to bed.”

    “Well, you’re going to need some cover if you plan on getting in there.”

    “Do it” Gary replies, shots rips through the air and smash into the side of the building, using the cover Davey provides Gary rushes towards the cafe and dives through the window. What was once a busy little café is now a battlefield.

    “Sykes send your men in now, all the hostages are dead and the fucker responsible is nowhere to be see…. FUCK!” Gary yells as he dives desperately over the counter trying to avoid the salvo of shots that pour towards him.

    “Why can’t you just leave me alone!” a voice screams. “This is my time, not yours!”

    “You know we can’t do that!” Gary yells back. “Why don’t you put the weapons down, and you may get out of this alive!”

    “You have no idea what you’re dealing with, what I am, what he made me!”

    “If you don’t cooperate and lay the weapons down I’ll be un-making you!” Gary yells as he dives out from behind the counter and fires several well-placed shots to the man’s head, they do little to stop him, and Gary just lays there, bewildered for a few moments.

    The DRS Team burst through the entrance and open fire upon the man, and to everyone’s amazement they have little, to no impact as well, then in several fluid and violent movements, he takes out all of the team members and then slowly turns to face Gary again, a smile broadly on his face.

    “As I said, you have no idea what you’re dealing with.”

    “Oh come on, fuck me!” Gary yells as he dives behind the counter once again as shots rip past him, just narrowly missing cutting him in two. “Davey Boy I hope you got something I can use?” he says through his commline.

    “I’ve got shit on a stick,” Davey replies. “We’ve got back up on its way but the way things are going I don’t know if they’re going to get here in time to back up anyone.”

    “Then let’s just improvise Davey Boy, the DRS team poured some serious firepower on our perp, and it did fucking nothing, they didn’t even wind the fucker. We need something heavy,” Gary says as he looks around the cafe for anything he can use.

    Davey’s voice rips back through his commline, “Ok, get some fucking cover, you don’t want to end up being scraped off the floor as well!” Davey yells. “In other words I’ve got a plan so make sure you’re out of the way.”

    “Don’t do anything stupid.”

    “You know me, I learnt from the best.”

    “That’s what I’m worried about.”

     

    END OF ACT I

     

  • Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Four – Act IV

    Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Four – Act IV

    Clover Mall, one of the biggest and newest malls to grace Delta City, only completed three years ago, it has become a beacon of what today, can be created. Complete with a state of the art security system and more shops than you ever thought possible to be in one place.

    “You go to the security room, and I’ll stay on the floor, see if you can spot him and guide me in his direction?” Gary instructs as the two go their separate ways.

    Davey barges his way into the security room and shoves his badge in the security officer’s face, after several agonising minutes Davey finally spots Steedman and guides Gary towards him.

    “Simon, doing some late night shopping?” Gary yells, Steedman comes to a stop and slowly turns to face Gary.

    “Gary, twice in one week, a man would begin to think you were following him.”

    “A man would be right then.”

    “Do you mind if I do a couple of jobs first and then I’ll pop over to Three and we can sit down and I’ll go over everything I know about Allison’s movements. I promised my wife I wouldn’t forget and with everything that happened this morning I almost did.”

    “Bullshit, you’re not even married you arsehole, why are you trying to avoid this, did you have a part to play into what happened to Allison? Danny said it wasn’t a suicide, he said someone deliberately overdosed him on the MercuryFour.”

    “Fuck you Jackson, you don’t know what it’s like, sometimes things happen, sometimes people have to become something else to get the job done. I’m not trying to defend myself here I’m just saying things happen, I’ve seen things that would make you wet yourself, so don’t judge me. If you want me, you’re going to have to take me down the hard way!” Steedman yells as he throws his bags to the ground and faces Gary down.

    Gary places a hand on his blaster, Steedmans eyes watchfully follows his hand, “Look, Simon, why don’t you calm down and we’ll go to Three, sit down like adults and go over everything, this doesn’t have to end up getting violent.”

    “Then take your hand off your blaster, if you really don’t want to get violent.”

    “Ok,” Gary says as he raises his hands in the air. “Look, whatever role you played in Allison’s death it doesn’t have to go down the wrong way, if you took him out because of what he did to the kids, it could be your saving grace, you might even keep your badge.”

    “I don’t know what you’re talking about, you have no evidence to interrogate me with, I had nothing to do with those children or Allison’s death!” Steedman yells.

    “I never said you were involved in the deaths of the children, just Allison’s, that’s all, you can deny it all you want but you left a pretty good boot print on Allison’s thigh, which Danny would have matched to at least one pair of your shoes by now.”

    “You’ve been in my home?”

    “We obtained a warrant half an hour ago, we tried reaching out to you but you left your phone in your car, seemed you’d packed quite a bit of shit in there, were you taking a trip?”

    “Fuck you, I don’t have to answer any of your questions, I’m not under arrest.” Steedman says, Gary stares at him for several moments before making up his mind and drawers his blaster free from its holster and aims it towards Steedman.

    “Simon Steedman, I’m placing you under arrest for the murder of four children and Marcus Allison,” Gary says as he grabs Steedman by the shoulder, Steedman grabs a small silver device from his jacket pocket and throws it to the ground between them, Gary makes the stupid mistake of looking down to see what it was as the device lets out a loud shrill and explodes in a ball of light blinding him instantly and Steedman takes off down the hallway.

    “Have a nice time finding me Jackson!” Steedman yells back.

    “Steedman is our target, get your arse down here now!” Gary yells over the commline, he lets out a scream of pain as he shakes his head vigorously, trying to see anything other than the bright white light he sees at the moment.

    “On my way, where are you?”

    “Fuck where I am, he’s coming your way, the fucker dropped a hyperflare and I can’t see shit, so this ones on you!” Gary screams as he tries to feel his way forward.

     

    #

     

    Gleeson sits at his desk staring at the holo image of a shadowed figure.

    “Thank you sir, I’m honoured to take over from Divisional Commissioner Alexander.”

    “I’m glad, it took more time to finally move the old buzzard on as it took for us to settle you into the position, I was worried you would keel over before he ever stood down,” the figure says with laughter.

    “I had the same feeling, but now I have a real chance of making a difference, making a change for the better.”

    “I hope you realise what I have done for you, your past would be nothing without my help, and you would be definitely under the ground now if it were not for me, so don’t get too big a plans Commissioner,” Gleeson looks up and stares uneasily at the figure.

    “I realise this sir, and I appreciate all you have done, but now is the time for me to begin cracking down on some of the bigger problems in this city. I have files filled with data and targets, but you continue to tie my hands on these, the time has come for those bindings to be removed and for you to let me do what this city needs to be done.”

    “Don’t suddenly grow balls Gleeson, you are still my puppet, and you still follow my commands. I have not invested all my time and credits in you just so you can run away with the fairies and try to clean the filth from this city. You will remember it was I who helped you get to where you are, no one else, so don’t think you are above me.”

    “That’s not what I meant sir.”

    “Glad you feel that way Commissioner, I can see we will work well together,” the figure says as the screen goes blank, Gleeson slams his fists on the table in anger.

     

    #

     

    Steedman runs around the corner, looking over his shoulder frantically and doesn’t notice Davey coming at him from the other direction and the two slam into each other, and both go crashing to the ground. For a few moments they both sit there dazed, before Davey notices that his blaster has fallen to the ground and it sits between them. Steedman spots the blaster as well and both men make a dive for it, wrestling over it for several moments, before Steedman manages to free himself from Davey’s grip and grabs the blaster and points it towards Davey.

    “Get back, get fucking back!” Steedman yells.

    “Look Steedman, don’t make things worse than they already are!”

    “Don’t try and belittle me you fucker,” Steedman says. “I’m not stupid, you’re all the same, I want to help you, Simon. I only want to do what is right for you, Simon. I just want my cut, Simon. Pay me, Simon! Well, it’s too late pretty boy, I don’t swing that way anymore, now you just sit there quietly while I think about whether I put a hole in your head or not!”

    “Look, Simon, I don’t care what you think, but you don’t want to make things any worse than they already are, you kill me, and there’s no way of getting out of the hole you’re in, at least now, at this moment, it’s only forty or fifty years on ice.”

    “Shut up!” Steedman yells as he smashes the blaster into Davey’s face. “Just shut the fuck up!” He gets to his feet and stands over Davey, the blaster still aimed at his head, “You made me do…” Simon’s words are cut short as Gary crashes into him and they both go crashing to the ground, Davey’s blaster skids off down the corridor and Gary yanks Steedman’s arm behind his back.

    “FUCK OFF!” Steedman yells. “LET ME FUCKING GO!”

    “Not on your life,” Gary says, his vision still not back to one hundred percent, but enough for him to find his target. Davey gets to his feet and grabs his blaster shoving it in Steedman’s face.

    “How do you feel now little man? How do you feel about all you’ve done?” Davey says.

    “Davey, lower your fucking weapon!” Gary yells as he locks the holding clamps on Steedman. “We’ve got him Davey, we’ve got the fucker and he’s not going anywhere but on ice, and for a lot longer than he would hope!”

    “Why, why should he be allowed to live, this sick fucker deserves nothing better than a hole in the head!”

    “It’s not the way, you kill him, and you’re no better than he is, no better than the scum we fight to put away. Lower you blaster and step back, let the fucker rot in the VR system!” Gary says as he places a hand on Davey’s blaster, Davey stares viciously at Steedman and the after a few moments, slowly lowers his blaster.

    “Believe me, this is the right way,” Gary says. Steedman begins to smile and lets out a little laugh.

    “I knew you were too weak to pull the trigger,” Steedman laughs, Gary spins around and as he does, he grabs Davey’s blaster out of his hands and smashes it across Steedman’s face then shoves it up into his jaw.

    “You keep laughing funny boy, because I’m going to be laughing as you’re shoved on ice for the next ninety years and I’m going to make sure to visit you every now and then and remind you why you’re there. So you just keep laughing funny boy, just keep fucking laughing,” Gary says as he pulls Steedman to his feet.

     

    #

     

    In downtown, it’s hard to have a good reputation for anything, let alone food, but Park Side Café has always managed to keep theirs above better than average and in Westfield, better than average is top of the line, and with prices to die for it makes them one of the most popular eateries in the area.

    “Has anyone heard from Jamie? He’s ten minutes late for his shift, which is a first,” The manager of Park Side asks one of the staff members working the counter of the small café.

    “No, he seemed fine last night when he left, nothing unusual, said he’d see me today,” the staff member replies.

    “Well he’s not here, and he’s not answering any of my calls, I might pop over to his place and see if he’s okay.”

    “That won’t be necessary, sorry I’m late,” a gravelled voice says from the entrance way.

    “Jamie, are you okay?”

    “I’m the best I’ve ever been in my life, so consider this my resignation,” Jamie says as he opens fire, shots rip into the manager and anyone else within the immediate area.

     

    #

     

    “You did okay today Davey,” Gary says as he takes a seat at his desk.

    “Why don’t I feel like it then?”

    “Because you’re a critical motherfucker who can’t accept the fact that you’re out of touch with the world, living the big life up there in the towers of Babylon drinking wine and having your dick sucked every day has created this barrier you are going to have to push yourself past.”

    “Fantasise much?”

    “No, facts are facts.”

    “Sharing some words of wisdom Gary?” Gleeson says as he stands in the doorway.

    “Something like that.”

    “You boys got a good result today, keep it up and you never know where your feet may land you in the future.”

    “I’ve tasted the future Bill, and I find this sort of thing more satisfying,” Davey says.

    “Sometimes, change is what we all need son.”

    “Is that coming from our Superintendent or the Divisional Commissioner himself?” Gary asks.

    “Both, now I expect to see you, both of you, tomorrow night, Doris has planned a little gathering for family and friends to celebrate, or as I call it an excuse to spend more of my credits.”

    “I’d be honoured to,” Davey replies as Gary laughs.

    “Goodnight boys,” Gleeson says as he leaves the two alone again.

    “So, what do we do now?” Davey asks, but Gary does not need to answer the question as his commline flashes red.

    “Jackson here?”

    “We have a situation taking place at Park Side Café, Westfield, we need all available units ASAP.”

    “We’re on our way,” Gary replies. “Let’s go partner, time to go back to work.”

     

    END OF CHAPTER FOUR

  • Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Four – Act III

    Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Four – Act III

    District-Two stands high in uptown, many of the officers placed here are only a stone’s throw away from a Divisional placement, and Gary feels sick to the stomach about it.

    “Welcome to Two, where cops come to die?”  Gary announces to Davey.

    “Come to die?”

    “Fuckers placed here are a hop, skip and a jump away from a Divisional seating. Waste of time task forces are formed here, people sit around and make out they are doing real police work, but in reality, they’re just slowly losing their grip with the world and then Divisional completes that separation.”

    “You don’t think real cops can work in Divisional?”

    “Never seen one,” Gary replies with a smile as he points to a well-dressed man sitting at a desk. “That’s Steedman, see look at the fucker, he thinks he’s a fucking movie star.”

    As they get closer Steedman looks up and locks eyes with Gary, he gets to his feet and smiles, “Gary, it’s been a while.”

    “Gets like that when you’re reaching for that brass ring,” Gary says as they shake hands, “You remember Davey?”

    “Of course, Davey, what can I help you boys with, or are you just visiting?”

    “I was wondering if you could answer a few questions about a former partner of yours?”

    “What do you want with Allison?”

    “How do you know we’re after Allison?”

    “I’ve been a cop for twenty-five years Gary, it’s my job, and I got a call before you boys got here about the murders you’re dealing with at Three, you have to remember anything drug related comes across my taskforces desk.”

    “Spoiled the surprise then, anyway we have reason to believe Allison is responsible for the murder,” Gary replies. “If you’re not aware, we have DNA samples from all the children that are a one hundred percent match for Allison, and we also have reason to believe he’s in possession of a batch of MercuryFour that was meant to be in the evidence locker at Eight.”

    “Kids were never Allison’s style Gary, whatever evidence you have it planted. And the MercuryFour, junkies don’t even touch that anymore, and Allison he would’ve never been able to get his hands on the stuff in an evidence locker anyway.”

    “We’ve already checked Right’s evidence lockers and the drugs are gone, so that might be a small hole in your assumptions.”

    “Fuck, look Allison may have fallen into drugs, but he’s still a good man. I use him as a snitch every now and then, but I’m telling you Gary, there’s no way he would be involved with killing children, that’s just not him.”

    “I don’t give a fuck Steedman, the evidence points at Allison, good men don’t go around killing innocent children, let alone pumping them up with MercuryFour. Now do you know where Allison is?” Gary asks, Steedman looks down at his feet for a few moments.

    “I can take you to him, but Gary, please, let me talk to him first before you do, I may be able to get at least something out of him.”

    “Lead the way,” Gary replies as he holds his arm towards the doorway.

     

    #

     

    Gary screws up his nose as he gets out of his cruiser, ‘How the mighty have fallen, Allison used to have a place in uptown, but this shithole is definitely a move in the wrong direction.’ He looks around the junk riddled car park of the Costa Mae Hotel.

    “You sure he’s here?” Gary asks.

    “If I know Allison this is where he will be, he may be a junkie, but he’s also a creature of habit. Regardless of anything else, he always comes home at around eight and then leaves again around eleven-thirty, he’s very predictable, that’s why I use him so much,” Steedman says.

    “Good for you, let’s hope your creature of habit is just that,” Gary replies as he leans up against the doorway.

    “So you like it rough or easy these days?” Steedman asks.

    “On three,” Gary says giving Steedman a vicious stare. “One, two, three!” He yells as they crash through the doorway.

    “Marcus Allison, District-Three PD, stay where you are!” He spots the body instantly, his mouth covered with foam, drug overdose, blood trails lead from his eyes and nose to a pool on his chest, pockets of blisters cover most of his face, as well as a white powder.

    “Fuck!” Gary yells as he slams his fist into a wall. “Get Danny over here, and tell him we’ve got Allison’s body.”

     

    #

     

    “I’m telling you, he didn’t kill himself,” Danny says.

    “How can you be sure?”

    “The amount of MercuryFour in his system is astronomical, no one could’ve survived a quarter of that amount and still managed to feed the rest in, he was killed,” Danny replies. “And there’s something else, see these markings on his inner thigh?” Danny pulls the sheet back over Allison’s body pointing them out. “Someone held him down, drove their boot right into his thigh and forced the drugs into him. These red marks around his mouth and nose tell me that right away. We’ve all seem the damage MercuryFour can do, it rips away at the skin, but these are more like grazes than side effects of the drugs.”

    “Great, one door closes and another one opens, so you think it was revenge for the kids?” Davey asks.

    “Maybe, or maybe he never did the kids, maybe this was a way of completely throwing us off whoever really did this, dead men tell no lies.”

    “So what do we do, how do we find the killer?”

    “I bet Steedman knows!” Gary replies as he grabs his phone.

    “Hello Delta District-Two PD, you’re speaking with Thomas, how may I help you?”

    “Thomas, this is Detective Inspector Jackson from District-Three, I need to have a word with Chief Inspector Steedman?”

    “One moment detective inspector,” Thomas replies, the Delta City police logo appears and some crappy music begins to play, several minutes pass before Thomas reappears, “I’m sorry Detective Inspector, I cannot locate Chief Inspector Steedman, he seems to be out of the office at the moment. Would you like to leave a message?”

    “Do you know where he is?”

    “No, sorry detective inspector, there are no notes on his schedule.”

    “Look Thomas, this is an emergency, can you locate his cruiser for me?”

    “One moment, I’ll patch through to dispatch and get the coordinates for you.”

    “Thanks,” Gary looks at Davey.

    “You got a feeling?”

    “Sort of, I’m not sure just yet, we’ll see how it plays out.”

    Thomas comes back on the other end of the line, “Detective Inspector Jackson, his cruiser is located at Clover Mall, parking level A-Thirty-Seven.”

    “Thanks Thomas, you’ve done great,” Gary says as he places the phone down.

    “Clover Mall it is?” Davey says.

    “Too fucking right, Clover Mall, let’s see what he’s hiding from,” Gary replies.

    “You think he’s going to ground?”

    “Only one way to find out.”

     

    END OF ACT III

  • Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Four – Act II

    Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Four – Act II

    Gary barges into District-Three HQ and quickly makes his way to the elevator.

    “Gary!” a voice yells out from behind him as he steps into the elevator, he turns and the look of concentration on his face dissolves to one of surprise.

    “Davey ‘fucking’ Givans what the hell are you doing here down in the pits of the Districts?” Gary says as he and Davey embrace.

    “I’ve been reassigned to Three.”

    “You’re fucking kidding me? How does someone get reassigned from Divisional to a hell hole like this?”

    “They request it.”

    “Seriously? Divisional get that boring for you?”

    “Come on Gary, cut the shit, you know me, I always liked to keep myself involved in the day to day bullshit of this job. Divisional was good for a while, but the politics of it all interferes in what I love about the job.”

    “What, getting shot at by Zerker’s and junkies?”

    “Exactly,” Davey says with a laugh. “So how’s everyone? It’s been way too long since we all sat down and had a few drinks.”

    “Everyone is doing fine, Fontaine is still running his shithole of a bargain store and taking anything else he can on the side, Jonah is working the private sector as a security officer, among other things and Patterson is off-world somewhere, making the stars safe for us all.”

    “Off-world?”

    “Yeah some bullshit hush, hush, expedition back to the failed colonies.”

    “He always was a sucker for aliens.”

    “Yeah, he may finally live out Fontaine’s dream of having sex with one.”

    “How did Andrew take it?”

    “All I’ll say is, he sent him a dead rat as a going away present, and apparently, according to Fontaine, he hid a fish in Patterson’s luggage.”

    “Sounds like he’s settled a lot since I last saw him.”

    Gary laughs, “You could call it that, although I think it might be because he’s getting married, again.”

    “Again?”

    “It’s a long story, which I’m sure he’ll drive you crazy with when we all sit down,” Gary says with a laugh. “So where have you been assigned to in this shithole?” he says as the doors open, and they both step out.

    “Same floor as you.”

    Gleeson makes his way towards them with a glowing smile on his face, “Davey great to see you,” he says as they shake hands.

    “Superintendent, it’s been too long, how’s Doris?”

    “She’s good, you’ll have to get your arse over for dinner soon, away from all these pompous rules and regulations,” He replies as he looks towards Gary. “I would’ve liked to talk to you before Davey arrived but, as usual, your ability to get side-tracked interfered again.”

    “Sorry, you wouldn’t believe where my day ended up.”

    “Somethings never change,” Davey says.

    “Why change perfection,” Gary says with a smile.

    “I know you’ve got your hands full so I won’t keep you boys any longer than I need to,” Gleeson says. “To help Davey assimilate himself into District-Three I am partnering you two together.”

    “No offense to Davey, but I work better alone.”

    “Not anymore, and I expect you to lay off using Fontaine, it makes all of us look bad,” Gleeson says.

    “We had a deal remember?”

    “Deals are what they are, this is an order.”

    “Don’t worry about me, I can handle myself, I’ve kept the rust from setting in at Divisional, so you won’t need to carry me like a rookie,” Davey says with a smile.

    “Guess I really don’t have much of a choice do it.”

    “There is no such thing as a choice here, now get Davey up to speed on your case files and get to work,” Gleeson says. “And one other thing before you boys leave, I just wanted you to know as of next week Chief Inspector Stapleton will be replacing me here as District Superintendant.”

    “You got the promotion? That’s great news, Doris must be over the moon, and I know mum and dad would be,” Gary says as he shakes Gleeson’s hand.

    “Thank you son, yes, Doris has already started ordering more shit we don’t need, you should have seen her, I swear her eyes lit up like dollar signs when I told her of the promotion,” Gleeson says with a laugh. “Now get out there and show me the results I know you two are capable of.”

    Gary looks at Davey and the smile drops from his face, “OK, for starters we don’t have time to sit back and scratch our arse, so I hope you came prepared to jump right in?”

    “I’ve been ready for this since Gleeson accepted my transfer, I’m ready to get back to basics,” Davey replies, Gary stops and faces Davey.

    “I’m never going to understand why you wanted to come to this shit hole of all places. You earned your position at the top, you did the yards and played the games, so I hope you’re not on some sort of suicide run because I don’t have time to carry you.”

    “You’ve got nothing to worry about with me Gary, I’m here to get my hands dirty and make a difference, like we always talked about, Divisional doesn’t care about doing the right thing, cleaning the streets, putting the shit where they belong, the just sit there and dip their fingers in all the shit they can. Look, really, all I can tell you is I need this as much as you do.”

    Gary stands there for a few moments before he hands Davey a datapad, “Here’s the file on our current case, four children aged between six and eleven were found in Milwaukee Park early this morning. Each of the children suffered fatal stab wounds to their upper torso and chest, and none of them showed any signs of defensive wounds, or fear for that matter, we’re running with the idea that drugs were used to placate them,” he says quickly, Davey opens the datapad and then quickly closes it.

    “You have got to be kidding me,” Davey says softly, Gary stops again and rips the datapad out of Davey’s hands.

    “Look we don’t have time for you to be sick,” Gary says. “The children showed signs of some sort of white powder on their mouth and nose, and Danny, Three’s head forensic coroner, believes its MercuryFour. Junkies don’t even touch that shit anymore, so we’re dealing with a sick puppy if that’s the case,” he looks back at Davey who is white as a ghost. “You never were one for the grisly stuff, still this is new.”

    “Sorry, I’ll be fine, this is just unexpected.”

    “Trust me, Three has no room for weak stomachs. Not like Divisional, now are you going to be ok or not? We’re going to see Danny for the autopsy results, so that means the morgue, and more than likely the bodies, do you think you can handle it?”

    “I’ll be fine, I’m feeling better now.”

    “Grab a drink of water and follow me,” Gary says pointing Davey to a water cooler.

     

    #

     

    “Danny this is Detective Sergeant Davey Givens, he’s joining us here in this hell hole for a while, Davey and I go way back to training days,” Gary says. “Davey this is Danny Halifax, the best coroner you can work with in Three, or any other District for that matter.”

    “You’ve got one hell of a guide, if he doesn’t get you killed, you’ll learn a lot,” Danny says shaking Davey’s hand.

    “I have a feeling that’s on the cards, but he did save my life more times than I can remember when we were based out in the wastelands, so I’m hoping he’ll keep up the tradition,” Davey replies.

    “Don’t make me regret any of those times, or you’ll have more than a feeling,” Gary says. “What have you got on the kids Danny?”

    “It’s what I didn’t find that’s upsetting,” Danny replies as he pulls a drawer out of the wall, laying on the metal table is one of the children from earlier. “There are no defensive marks on any of them, they never put up a fight, not one of them. But even more disturbing is that there’s also no trauma marks around the entry points.”

    “So what you’re saying is that these kids didn’t fight back at all?” Davey asks.

    “From what we can see at the moment, the answer is yes.”

    “So, it was more than one attacker?” Davey asks.

    “No, there was only one attacker that I am sure of, the results show that all the entry points were the same depth and from the same angle, the chance of there being more than one attacker is very unlikely, there would be too many variations, here there are none.”

    “What sort of person would do such a thing to a child?” Davey asks.

    “You’d be surprised what some people are capable of down here in Three, it’s nothing like when we were based in Five, that place was a cake walk compared to the shit we deal with here, that’s why Delta Holding’s grows another level every five months,” Gary says. “What about the white powder, is it MercuryFour?”

    “Sharon is still doing some final work on the samples we pulled from the kids and the crime scene, she should be able to give you full details on it all.”

    “Ok, we’ll head over to trace and see what she’s turned up,” Gary says. “I’ll let you know if I need anything else from you Danny.”

    “You know where to find me,” Danny replies. “Oh, and good luck Davey, I hope you last.”

    “You’re not the only one.”

     

    #

     

    A few silent minutes later they arrive at the trace labs, “Sharon this is Detective Sergeant Davey Givans,” Gary says.

    “Welcome to the club Davey, I hope he’s being nice to you?”

    “I’m too scared to complain in case he takes me out the back and puts a blaster to my head,” Davey replies with a smile.

    “Enough with the smart arse routine guys,” Gary says. “Sharon, Danny tells me you should have the results from the multiple homicides ready for me?”

    “You mean the children, horrible thing to happen to someone so young, but on a positive, your killer left his DNA all over them.”

    “You’re going to tell me you’ve got an exact match as well aren’t you?”

    “Marcus Allison.”

    “Marcus Allison?” Gary says. “That name sounds familiar.”

    “Up until eight months ago Allison was a District officer,” Sharon says. “He was dismissed after he was caught using illegal drugs while working a case, it was in the news quite a bit at the time from memory. The media were like vultures over the case because it was shown Allison was high on whatever he had managed to score that day while he was involved in a shootout that killed three innocent bystanders, and it was shown that Allison was the shooter.”

    “He avoided not being sent to Delta Holdings?” Davey asks.

    “It was his impeccable record that saved him a trip to the freezer, twenty-one years on the force, five hundred and sixty-eight arrests and not one problem, not up until that event anyway.”

    “Do we have a current address for him?” Gary asks.

    “No, by the looks of things he just up and disappeared after he was dismissed.”

    “Fuckers still around by the looks of it, what about the white power?” Gary asks.

    “Danny was correct in his assumption, the powder used was MercuryFour.”

    “Fuck, I really thought even dealers were too smart to sell that garbage.”

    “That’s the general consensus these days, it’s been over two years since we’ve had a case dealing with MercuryFour at Three anyway, but it’s not just us, the last reported case involving MercuryFour was almost eighteen months ago.”

    “Which District?”

    “Eight.”

    “Does it say who the officer’s involved with the case were?”

    “Detective Inspector Simon Steedman was lead, but he’s no longer stationed in Eight, he’s leading task force Johanna at Two.”

    “Johanna, they’re a drug-related task force right?” Davey asks.

    “That’s correct, Johanna has been in place for a little over a year, and it’s a waste fucking of time,” Gary says.

    “I’ve seen their results and could not agree more, Steedman was the wrong guy for the job but someone upstairs shoehorned him into the position,” Davey replies. “So we off to Two?”

    “Two it is,” Gary says in agreeance. “Let’s see if our old friend Steedman can help us out with some information, he might have something on known MercuryFour suppliers.”

    “There’s one last thing I thought you’d like to know, the MercuryFour found on the children is exactly the same as the MercuryFour from the last recorded bust, right down to its sub-atomic makeup. It’s either from the same batch as the one Steedman recovered, or it’s the MercuryFour that was recovered in the bust he made eighteen months ago,” Sharon says. “And at that time Steedman’s partner was Marcus Allison.”

    “The plot thickens,” Gary says as he turns to Davey with a smile. “Two, here we come, bring your baseball bat Davey Boy, because we’re going to cause trouble uptown.”

     

    END OF ACT II

     

  • Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Four – Act I

    Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Four – Act I

    Milwaukee Park, normally a safe haven for children and their families, but today the park is nothing less than a danger warning to everyone that life is not all fun and games. Gary makes his way through the police barrier, out of the corner of his eye he spots several news cameras and lets out a groan of displeasure.

    “Detective Inspector, can you give us any comments on the murders that have taken place over the last six hours?” Mandy Holmes from Channel Thirty-One yells from out of the crowd.

    Gary stop and turns around and shields his eyes from the camera lights, “As you can see Miss Holmes, I’ve just arrived on the scene, so right now I know nothing more than you, but, if I need to use you for anything, I’ll call. So why don’t you follow your usual procedure and give Jones a blow job out the back and I’m sure he’ll tell you everything you need to know,” Gary says and continues towards the large tent that covers the crime scene as the camera man receives a stiff punch in the arm from Mandy for laughing.

    Gary walks through and is instantly greeted by a sight he cannot take back, before him are the mutilated bodies of four children, his stomach churns for the first time in what seems like forever, he is sickened.

    “Fuck me Danny, please tell me you’ve got something?”

    “We’ve got multiple samples from all the children but nothing clean has come back on the field gear, whoever did this left plenty of clues but we won’t know what we’ve got until we get it all back to the lab so I can run more extensive tests, regardless we will have the fuckers name and address to you in the next three hours, I can promise you that,” Danny replies as he gets to his feet. “They were just fucking kid’s Gary, what kind of demented psycho does this to kids?”

    “There are lots of twisted fucks in this world Danny, we seem to see more and more of them as the days go on,” Gary replies, he stands there and looks over the crime scene, his face begins to show his puzzlement.

    “Notice something?”

    “Does anything about this hit you as strange?”

    “Strange, in what way?”

    “The way they’re laid out, I mean the attack doesn’t look frenzied, it looks easy, at a scene like this you’d expect to be able to feel the fear these kids felt before they died, you should be able to see some sort of a struggle, but, it’s all just too neat. Were they killed here or dumped?” Gary asks as he bends down over one of the bodies.

    “They haven’t been moved, the blood indicates they died where they fell, there’s no way the bodies have been moved.”

    “What’s the white powder around their lips and nose?”

    “Not sure yet, I’ve got a sample being run through trace, my first thought was MercuryFour, but that shit’s been off the market for a while now, but I’ll have something for you once we pack up and get back to the lab.”

    “MercuryFour? That doesn’t sound good for any of us, I’ll leave you to finish up,” Gary says as he heads out of the tent and towards the second crime scene a few meters away.

    “Tell me these two are linked?” Gary asks Sarah Bouon, Forensic Coroner Second Class who is in charge of the scene.

    “No,” Sarah replies quickly. “The Zerker’s were enraged by the time they finished with Washington and attacked the officers, from what Danny has told me about the bodies he is dealing with, the Zerker’s could’ve never pull off something so neat and clean in the state they were in.”

    “So two different crime scenes meters apart, but no connection, must be my lucky day, I’m so thankful Bill decided to lumber me with both of these.”

    “If it makes you feel any better, this one is cut and dry. Tests confirm Big Palco, his DNA is all over the place, fucking pig.”

    “I’ll head downtown and find Mister Palco and his Aces,” Gary says as he heads off towards his AC-Stinger.

    “Anything to say now, Detective Inspector?” Mandy calls out, Gary climbs on his bike ignoring Mandy’s request. “Jackson, our viewers have a right to know what’s happening in their city?”

    ‘Fucking pariah!’ Gary slams on his helmet as his commline comes to life.

    “Don’t tell me you’ve got another body for me to deal with tonight?”

    “No, your case load is full enough right now, but I do need you at my office sometime within the next two hours,” Gleeson says.

    “Can it wait? I’ve got a few leads to follow on the Washington case, looks like The Aces are involved.”

    “You can’t keep ignoring me son, what happened with Hallowthorpe, we have to talk about it sooner or later.”

    “Do we? I made a call, and it was the right one as far as I’m concerned, I could only get to one.”

    “Bullshit, you could have told someone what was going on, you could have called dispatch?”

    “I made a call, a call that worked out for your friends in high places, with Hallowthorpe gone they have control, so why the fuss over it all?”

    “It wasn’t your call to make son, you should’ve at least contacted me, we could’ve made the decision together instead of you taking that burden on yourself, regardless of ‘my friends in high places,’ as you call them.”

    “There’s no burden Bill, is that all? Can I get back to work?”

    “No, I still need you to come in and see me, it’s unrelated, and son, the sooner this is handled, the better, The Aces can wait.”

    “Ok, whatever, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

    “Two hours,” Gleeson replies as he disconnects the commline.

    “Fuck,” Gary mutters as he takes off towards downtown.

     

    #

     

    Gary brings his AC-Stinger to a halt outside the bar ‘One in the Chamber’ a known Zerker’s safe zone and The Aces favorite hang out. He runs a quick inspection on his blaster before he places it back in its holster and grabs a syringe from a compartment on the bike and stuffs it in his jacket and storms into the bar.

    “Fuck off Jackson,” The man behind the bar yells out.

    “I love you too Vaughn,” Gary replies. “I don’t want any trouble, I’m only here for Big Palco, you give him to me and we can both have an easier afternoon.”

    “He isn’t here, now fuck off.”

    “Bullshit Vaughn, I said I didn’t want any trouble, remember what happened last time you wasted my time with your lying?”

    “I remember, that’s why I’ve upgraded my security since you were here last,” Vaughn replies as two big hands grab Gary by the head and fling him into the wall, Gary crashes to the floor, stunned but not unconscious.

    “Seriously, you got yourself a fucking hulk?” Gary says as he tries to free his blaster, the Zerker grabs Gary once again and slams him into the wall again, holding him against it. Vaughn walks proudly over to them, not attempting to hide his smile.

    “Like I said Jackson, I haven’t seen Big Palco, and even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you. You might have the law behind you, but I fear the Zerker’s more than the law,” Vaughn says. “Take him out the back, and make sure he doesn’t bother anyone again, ever.”

    The Zerker grunts his understanding and carries Gary towards the exit, a shot rips through the Zerker’s head that sends him crashing backwards, Gary drops to the floor and gives Vaughn a deathly look, and he smiles, smoke rising from the chamber of his blaster, Vaughn meets Gary’s gaze with fear.

    “Where do we go from here?”

    “To hell,” a voice says from behind him, Gary spins around to face Big Palco as he punches the button on his chest.

    “Fuck,” Gary says as he goes flying through the air and into the other side of the bar, crashing to the ground in a bloody heap from a punch from Palco’s massive right hand.

    “You wanted me blue, well here I am, come get me!”

    “I already have,” Gary replies with a splutter of blood.

    “What?” Palco replies, “FUCK!” he yells as he sees a syringe poking out of his stomach.

    “You really think I’d come into this fight with the idea of it being fair, knowing you would just go punching that fucking death button of yours?” Gary says as he forces himself to his feet. Nitro is a chemical, and like all chemicals there is always a way to cancel out the effects, R-Four-D-One-One-Two-Four is the chemical enemy of Nitro in every possible way. First and foremost it stops Nitro’s effects in a matter of seconds, for the user it sadly has side effects, the most damning is mass muscle deterioration of all of the bodies enhanced muscles. And that was happening to Big Palco at this very moment, within seconds he was totally disabled and at Gary’s mercy.

    “Date night’s over Palco,” Gary says as he smashes Palco across the face with a thunderous right hook and follows it up with a powerful left upper cut, sending the incapacitated Palco to the ground, unconscious.

    Gary initialises his commline, “This is Jackson, I have suspect Big Palco in custody, send a meat wagon to my current location, I’ll await your arrival.”

    “Affirmative Detective Inspector, a meat wagon is on its way.“

    “Right, now where were we?” Gary says as he turns his attention back to Vaughn.

     

    END OF ACT I

  • Day 45 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Three – Act IV

    Day 45 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Three – Act IV

    Christopher removes the headset and gives a little laugh as he sits back in his seat, how easily this plan played out, and now as he relaxes as the jet prepares to take off towards New London, he feels finally fulfilled. He looks out the window and takes a sip of wine ‘Here’s to a plan well played.’ He allows a small laugh to escape.

    “Is this seat taken?” a voice asks.

    “No, please help yousel…” Christopher stops mid-sentence as he meets Gary’s gaze.

    “How’s this for a coincidence, fancy running into you, Hallowthorpe not with you?” Gary asks as he sits down looking around the cabin.

    “No, I have a personal matter to take care of that does not involve Caroline,” Christopher says as he slides the headset down the side of his seat.

    “Man what a view,” Gary says as he peers out the window. “Hey what are those?” he asks as he pulls up the headset.

    “No please, they are very expensive,” Christopher says in a panic as he grabs hold of the headset.

    “Ok, no need to get excited there Christopher,” Gary says as he lets go. “Anyone would think you just killed Hallowthorpe with some remote controlled droid dressed as her long dead sister.”

    Christopher sits there in shock for a few moments and his eyes begin to well up with tears, “What! How?”

    “Sometimes the little things you overlook are the things we find, but the servo-chair, leaving that behind was a big mistake. Seems not only does it record everything the droid does, but it also led me straight to you, I thought it was more important getting to you than Hallowthorpe. It also didn’t work well for you to use the same name for the ticket that you used to hire my former partner Andrew Fontaine for the ground work in your little plan. I see you’re a little shocked, so if you don’t mind, I’ll fill you in on what I think is going to happen, so tell me how close I am,” Gary says as he settles back in his seat. “You see Christopher, I’m pretty sure when we get a DNA test done on you, we’ll see that you’re Hallowthorpe’s half-brother or some relation of some kind, and I’m betting that’s why you did it in the end, you wanted to avenge the father you never knew and the sister you actually liked, all I want to know is why did it take you so long do it?”

    “The bitch was stealing my ideas and taking all the credit, I was the brains, she couldn’t even think without getting a headache. Spending all her time and credits at those disgusting so called entertainment shitholes,” Christopher replies. “The worst thing was, I never got a cent of what we made, I was paid a pittance for all the work I did, she deserved to die, one bad deed justifies another, I saw nothing wrong with it.”

    “Too bad Christopher, if you tried another way, you could’ve been sitting where she was, you could’ve had it all, but now you’ve got nothing.”

    “What’s going to happen to me now?” Christopher asks as the tears run down his face.

    “I don’t want to ruin the fun, but it’s going to be very cold.”

     

    #

     

    Within Delta City, man has recreated many areas to remind themselves of the beauty Earth once possessed, bio-engineered parks that can be found throughout many of the uptown and downtown suburbs. These parks were created with one intention, to mimic the once living earth that man so long ago destroyed. Milwaukee Park is by day a haven for children everywhere, and by night brings out all the monsters that hide in the shadows, and tonight is no exception.

    Three members of a Zerker’s gang named The Aces, deal out punishment to a credit jumping bookkeeper for their current employer.

    “Boss said you owe him his cut of your takings Washington, boss don’t like the disappearing act you did, you’ve wasted our time and his time and credits finding you,” one of the Zerker’s say to Washington, as he holds him by one leg in the air.

    “I’ll have his money Palco, I swear, it’s just tied up in an investment, there was nothing I could do. I have the same problems as your boss, I just needed time,” Washington pleads.

    “You know how this all works, if you weren’t so deep in shit then maybe we could give you a free pass. But you’re not only sinking in your own shit, your breathing it in like the disgusting little creep you are,” Palco replies.

    “I’ll double whatever Barossa is paying you if you give me a day, that’s all I need.”

    “You think I’m that fucking stupid?” Palco replies, “You know what happened to the last guy who tried to make a little money on the side? They got fucking buried, I’m not that stupid, so again you little shit, what will it be, fingers or toes?”

    “District-Three PD, freeze!” A voice yells from the darkness of the park. “Release Washington and get on your hands and knees!”

    “Fuck me, is this your doing little man?” Palco asks looking down at the upside down Washington.

    “No way, I may be stupid, but I’m not that stupid.”

    “Bullshit, they know your name arsehole,” Palco yells as he rips Washington in two like a wishbone and slams a button on his chest. The other two Zerker’s follow Palco’s lead, setting off a chemical injection of ND411 or as it’s known on the streets Nitro, an illegal steroid that works overtime. It simultaneously stimulates rapid muscle growth to every muscle in the body, sending the user into a muscle-bound rage fit more commonly called ‘Red Rage.’ The officers are quickly ripped into various pieces before they can even mount a defensive attack, the Zerker’s then continue their drug induced rampage off into the city.

    In the shadows, a figure watches them from afar. ‘That’s it, continue on your way my Zerker friends, leave me to do my work.’

    The man turns back to the four children who sit behind him, he pulls out a knife and it gleams in the moonlight.

    “Now that our friends are gone let’s get started shall we?” he says as he thrusts the blade into one of the children.

     

    END OF CHAPTER THREE

     

  • Day 42 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Three – Act III

    Day 42 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Three – Act III

    Caroline stands in front of a holo-projection of Mike Robbins the current anchor of Channel Thirty-One news, his contract is about to run out, and he’s trying to make a better deal.

    “Look I don’t care, you either agree to my terms or you can find work elsewhere, although I don’t know where else there is!” Caroline yells as she slams the phone down. “Ungrateful pricks, you give them everything, make them a name and all they want is more!”

    Caroline makes her way out into a large kitchen, four robots stand awaiting orders.

    “How may I be of assistance Miss Hallowthorpe?” one of the robots queries.

    “I am ready for my evening meal.”

    “It will be ready in five minutes Miss Hallowthorpe,” the robot replies and then it whisks off and begins preparing Caroline’s meal, the other robots quickly join in, suddenly there is a loud crash from the lounge area, and Caroline instantly freezes.

    Quickly she hits a small emergency button next to the phone and looks around the kitchen for something to use as a weapon, a knife rack catches her eye, and she slowly draws a knife free, then quietly makes her way out into the hallway. A sound comes from the lounge area and causes Caroline to freeze in her steps, after a few moments she slowly steps towards the entrance way when she is stopped again, this time by a cold shiver that run down her spine. She spins around in fright coming face to face with her long dead sister.

    “Rebecca!” Caroline screams in shock.

    “Hello Caroline, miss me?” Rebecca says as she backhands Caroline to the floor, and the knife goes skidding off underneath the sofa.

    “Don’t look so surprised sister you never really thought you could be rid of me did you?” Rebecca asks with a smile.

    “There’s no way,” Caroline says.

    “Why, because you killed me?”

    “You’re not my sister, I don’t know who you are, but you’re not my sister. But it matters little of who you are as the police are going to be here very soon!”

    “I hate to disappoint you sis, but they’re not coming, I took care of that before I got here.”

    “What the fuck are you?” Caroline yells. “You can’t be here, you’re dead! You’re dead!”

    “But I am,” Rebecca replies, “and I want what is mine, what you took from me.”

    “I took nothing from you, you took it from me, I should have had it all, you never earned it, you just sucked up to Daddy all the time, you never challenged anything he ever said you just wanted the credits. I’ve turned this into a business, into something even Daddy never dreamed of. You’re scum just like he was, that’s why he had to die, and that’s why you had to die too!” Caroline screams as she attacks Rebecca, who easily avoids her advances and throws her into the lounge area, Caroline goes crashing into the ground, she lets out a cry of agony as her hip rips out of its joint.

    “You killed Daddy too?”

    “Don’t play stupid with me bitch, you knew I killed Daddy, you saw me do it, but you knew to keep your mouth shut because you knew you would get everything!” Caroline yells as she feels around and finds the knife lying underneath the sofa, Rebecca grabs Caroline and pulls her up.

    “You killed Daddy!” Rebecca yells, Caroline takes the chance and plunges the knife deep into Rebecca’s chest, they both go crashing to the floor, and Caroline forces the knife in deeper, staring into her dead sister’s eyes with the glee of a maniac as she does.

    “I’m not going to make the same mistake twice, this time, I’m going to make sure you stay dead!” Caroline yells as she slowly gets to her feet and limps away.

    “Where do you think you’re going? It’s not over yet,” Rebecca says from behind her, Caroline turns around and faces Rebecca again.

    “It’s just not possible, I stabbed that knife into your heart, you should be dead?”

    “Sorry to disappoint you,” Rebecca says with a smile. “But you were right about one thing, Rebecca is dead, and I’m glad you finally admitted to what really happened,” she says as she grabs the front of her fringe and rips the skin off revealing a robotic face.

    “You’re a droid?”

    “Surprise Caroline, I just want to tell you it’s a shame I’m not there with you to witness your death first hand, but still there is nothing to cry over with this second rate live feed. In a way I’m sorry it had to end this way Caroline, but that’s how somethings go. You see right now I’m jetting off to my new life and you, well let’s just say you’re about to pay for your sins,” the droid says, the voice now matching Christopher’s.

    “Christopher?” Caroline mutters as the droids eyes flash red.

    “Don’t worry Caroline, I promise it won’t hurt too much, goodbye sister.”

    “Christopher you fu…” she screams as the droid explodes, the explosion rips into Caroline, her skin and flesh ripped from her bones, leaving only the smoking remains of what once was Caroline Hallowthorpe.

     

    END OF ACT III

     

  • Day 38 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Three – Act II

    Day 38 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Three – Act II

    For almost an hour, Gary follows Christopher down into the lower levels of Downtown until he finally pulls into an old rundown storage warehouse delightfully called ‘The Graveyard’ a place where things can come and rest in peace. ‘This is way too seedy an area for the rich and powerful to come visiting unless you have a secret to hide, what the fuck are you up to Dillinger?’

    He watches as Christopher comes to a stop in front of storage unit twenty-two. He looks around quickly before pressing a button on his key chain and the door slides open with a grinding hiss, Christopher enters the storage locker, and the door closes behind him. ‘What have you got in there?’

    Gary slowly makes his way towards the door of the storage unit, with a hiss the door begins to reopen, Gary quickly finds a place to crouch behind to avoid Christopher’s detection. To his surprise the sound of two sets of footsteps leave the storage unit, he quickly peers from behind the bin and is shocked to see only Christopher get into his car and drive away, Gary crouches back down his face showing his confusion. ‘I could’ve sworn two people just exited that storage unit?’

    Once Christopher is out of site he re-emerges from his hiding place and walks to storage unit twenty-two’s door, “So my friend what secrets are you going to tell me?” Gays says as he looks over the locking mechanism, and pulls out a small device from his pocket and places it against the lock. After several moments the door hisses open. Gary walks into the storage locker, the room is bare except for an unusual looking chair that sits in the centre of the room, and he recognises the device instantly.

    ‘Christopher, you little fucker!’

    #

     

    Delta District-Nine Detective Sergeant Lance Finnell walks out of the seedy Downtown brothel as he tucks his shirt into his pants.

    “Lance Finnell?” a voice asks from the darkness.

    “You seem to have me at a disadvantage friend, who the fuck are you supposed to be?” Finnell replies as he faces the alleyway and tries to make out the approaching figure.

    “Your end,” the figure replies as he steps out of the shadows and fires two shots into Finnell’s chest sending him crashing to the ground in a smoking heap. Within moments of Finnell hitting the ground, the figure is standing above him and pulls out a datapad.

    “You’ve been a naughty boy Lance, you don’t mind if I call you Lance, do you?” Finnell manages to draw a couple of breaths and squeezes out a gasp or two, but nothing else.

    “Didn’t think you would, so tell me, how does a guy like you sleep at night?” Finnell still only manages a few gasps.

    “Ok, I get it, why would you tell the guy who just shot you in the chest anything, I can understand that,” the man says. “I guess you want to know what’s happening, so I’ll give you the quick version, because you obviously don’t have much time. You’ve been found guilty of crimes against the citizens of Delta City, crimes that has so by my count, a count that is still yet to be finalized, cost over four hundred and twelve downtown dwellers their lives and seventy-eight or more investigations that you have purposely interfered with over your career to be abandoned due to lack or loss of evidence,” Finnell grabs the bottom corner of the man’s large overcoat and struggles to say something.

    “Sorry Lance, there is no plea bargaining, there is no eleventh hour save, your sentence has already been set, and it will now be dealt,” the man says as he picks up Finnell’s blaster and places it against his temple.

    “For your crimes you are sentenced to death, there is no redemption, there is no future, all that your life is, and was, is no more.”

    Finnell struggles to pull the blaster away, but the man holds it firmly down, a shot breaks the silence and it rips through Finnell’s head, which ruptures with the explosion of the blast and his eyes become blank and void of life.

    The man stands up and pulls out his datapad once more, “Lance Finnell, you have been judged and sentenced.”

     

    #

     

    Gary climbs aboard his Modified AC-Stinger and quickly picks up his phone and dials a number, several moments pass before Andrew Fontaine’s face appears on the other end.

    “The man, the hero, the saviour of the city, I’m hounoured you still know who I am and have even found the time to call me.”

    “You know you’re not funny, right?”

    “People pay for this sort of material.”

    “No they don’t, anyway, besides the thank you for the flowers, I need to know if you’ve done any work for Caroline Hallowthorpe or a Christopher Dillinger recently?”

    “I think I’m well below Hallowthorpe’s pay grade, but you know my business motto, who cares what their names are as long as the credits are golden.”

    “What about this girl? Remember her?” Gary asks as he holds up one of the photos he took from Caroline.

    “Her I remember, easiest track and trace I’ve ever had.”

    “What do you mean?”

    “It sounds strange for me to be questioning my very excellent detective skills, but it was like she knew I was there, she was posing for god’s sake. I don’t know, but you know when you get that feeling deep down that something is just not right, well I got it with this one.”

    “So you think it was all set up?”

    “No doubt, but as I said their credits were good so who cares, why the questions?”

    “Hallowthorpe is having a paranoid breakdown over this woman being up and walking around, apparently it’s her dead sister and she wants me to deal with the problem. Bill obviously sees this as another political power play, so he’s forcing me to be at her beck and call.”

    “Sucks to be you. When you say he’s forcing you, you mean he’s hanging shit over your head to get you to play along?”

    “That’s how it works, he promises to back off on me using you as a bouncing board.”

    “What a fuck, you know he’s full of shit, right?” Fontaine says.

    “I’m aware.”

    “Look, I do have something you may be able to use though, I mean it could’ve just been me, but I think there was something really wrong with her, she was just not right. I don’t know how to explain it, besides the whole feel of it being a set-up there was something about her that just seemed fake, I guess that’s what you would call it, she seemed fake.”

    “Remember the Lews-Philpher case from seventy-one?”

    “I still have the scars,” Fontaine replies. “Holy shit, you think she’s a droid?”

    “I’m beginning to think that.”

    “It would be a big call, have to be major underground bullshit, droids like that are completely off the grid, Lews-Philpher made sure of that. Who wouldn’t fear droids after the carnage that fucking droid caused.”

    “Well credits are no issue for these fuckers, is there anyone you can think of that would be able to get their hands on a droid if the credits were right?”

    “Fuck man, even I couldn’t get you a droid, I mean not like that, well maybe if you really wanted one I could manage to find something or Johnny L could, tech savvy arse. But the ones that are readily available are sex toys anyway. If you want them to do more basic shit like this one, you either run them yourself with a headset, which is pointless. But believe me, some sickos use them to fulfil their weird sexual desires, or you spend a lot of time reprograming the fuckers and that is hard shit, and trust me I know, I’ve been there, on both fronts,” Fontaine replies. “People with credits can always get the good shit, I’d look for Hans Lews, he’s still out there, fucker was never found after the droid went batshit crazy, and I’ve sourced one or two upgraded models since seventy-one. For personal use mind you, and his name is all over the work.”

    “You still think he survived all that shit?”

    “Tiracom fuckers always manage to survive, they’re like cockroaches, as I said, his name is all over the work, you can just tell sometimes and that case took a lot of leg work back in the day, so I was pretty deep into his work, in more ways than one, if you catch my drift,” Fontaine replies with a laugh. “Lionel Banks would know where he is, but I doubt he’d ever admit it, Lews was their best GeoTech, he put them on the map and they still seem to be making striding steps forward without him. So I’d say Tiracom would be the place to go for info.”

    “I don’t have time to try and locate a ghost or attempt to deal with Tiracom and Banks for information I know they won’t divulge. Have you got anything realistic I could use?”

    “Sorry man, wish I did, but the best I can say is, if credits are no issue then Tiracom is the answer, I can check with Johnny L and see if he’s had any dealings with anyone lately, but besides that I’ve got nothing,” Fontaine replies. “There is one other option though, but it would require you to have the servo-chair, that would give you an open shot at the droid and the owner in one go.”

    “Wait, what do you mean?”

    “The chair, if you have the servo-chair for the droid you can use it to locate the droid and the controller, if it is being controlled that is,” Fontaine says. “Everything the droid does is recorded in the chair, and I mean everything especially if it’s a controller droid, because the chair is the link between the headset for the controller and the droid. Pretty much the only reason I purge my chair religously, but amatures have no idea what the chair really does, me I never leave anything to chance and I don’t use the controller headset either, but that’s because I’m not really into fucking myself, tried it once and just really freaked me out.”

    “You’re fucking kidding me, you mean this chair?” Gary asks turning the screen around to face the chair that sits in the warehouse unit.

    “That’s the chair.”

    “How soon can you get to The Graveyard?”

    “A lot longer than it will take me to talk you through what you need to know.”

    “Well, you better start talking then.”

     

    END OF ACT II

     

  • Day 35 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Three – Act I

    Day 35 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Three – Act I

    For over one hundred years, Hallowthorpe Estate has entertained many of Delta City’s rich and important, today its latest visitor is neither of those, he bangs on the door and needs only wait several moments before Christopher Dillinger answers it.

    “Can I help you?”

    “Detective Inspector Gary Jackson, District-Three PD,” Gary says holding out his badge. “Miss Hallowthorpe contacted my Superintendent and wanted me to personally come see her,” a certain level of disrespect obvious in his voice. His mind is nowhere near ready for something like this as he’s still struggling to get himself back on track after the last few days in Bay Side Memorial. They can fix the flesh and bone in a matter of minutes, but the mind, well there is still no sure-fire cure for fixing that.

    “Detective Inspector, welcome, I’m Christopher Dillinger, I work for Miss Hallowthorpe,” Christopher says as he extends his hand, Gary takes it and gives it a good shake.

    “That must be fun,” Gary says sarcastically. “So what am I here for?”

    “I’ll leave that up to Miss Hallowthorpe to explain, if you would follow me,” Christopher replies as he leads Gary into a large lounge area, Caroline sits in a big chair sipping a glass of wine.

    “Miss Hallowthorpe, may I introduce, Detective Inspector Gary Jackson.”

    “You have a very beautiful and big place here, Miss Hallowthorpe.”

    “Thank you,” Caroline replies. “But you’re not here to compliment my house now are you, Detective Inspector, you’re here to help me.”

    “And how can I do that, Miss Hallowthorpe?”

    “Christopher, please give him the photos.”

    “Of course,” Christopher replies as he walks over to a table and picks up several photos.

    “These photos were taken two days ago by a private investigator I hired,” Caroline says as Christopher hands Gary the photos.

    “Who am I looking at, and why am I supposed to care?” Gary asks as he looks at the pictures of a young lady with long blonde hair.

    “The lady in the picture is my sister, Rebecca,” Caroline replies.

    “And the importance of these photos are?”

    “Rebecca died in a car accident three years ago Detective Inspector,” Christopher says.

    “And these were taken two days ago?”

    “Yes, by a private investigator,” Caroline replies.

    “This private investigator, do they have a name?”

    “A Mister Andrew Fontaine,” Christopher replies.

    “Fontaine?” Gary says, the surprise shows on his face.

    “You know of him?”

    “You could say that, I didn’t think he still did this sort of stuff anymore.”

    “It’s none of my concern if this man does or does not do this sort of work anymore, I want to know what you’re going to do about my problem?” Caroline asks.

    “Look, Miss Hallowthorpe, I don’t understand why you want me here or what you want me to do?”

    “Is it not obvious? Someone is trying to kill me and take my empire, and you are here to make sure they do not succeed,” Caroline replies, the frustration in her voice evident.

    “But there’s nothing to say anyone is trying to kill you, just some photos of your supposed dead sister, which amounts to nothing really in my book.”

    “The mag-link accident from a few days ago was her first attempt, but it failed, next time she may succeed,” Caroline says with anger.

    “What the fuck are you talking about? The mag-link accident was due to an overflow in the mag-link grid,” Gary replies. “That was not aimed at you Miss Hallowthorpe, fifteen people were killed and you, Miss Hallowthorpe, survived. If you were the intended victim, I’m sure we would not be sitting here having this conversation. Now if you don’t mind, I’ve got better things to do than deal with a delusional nut case who thinks the world is out to steal her millions.”

    “How dare you talk to me like that, I will have your badge for this!”

    “Look Miss Hallowthorpe for all I care you can take my badge and shove it,” Gary says. “I don’t work for you, I work for the city, this is not my division or for that matter my area of expertise, I have twelve homicide cases on the go and I’ve just spent two days locked up in Bay Side Memorial. You want to be watched twenty four seven go to the private area, I’m sure you can afford better than I could ever do for you.”

    “Get out!” Caroline screams. “Get out now!”

    “It’s been a pleasure,” Gary says as he storms out of the room and out the door. He sits back on his modified AC-Stinger as the bikes commline begins to blink.

    “She was quick.”

    “What the fuck did you say to her?” Gleeson yells down the commline.

    “Nothing, I told her she was wasting my time and to go elsewhere for the sort of assistance she was after.”

    “Bullshit, what you did was act like an arse,” Gleeson says. “Why did she want to see you anyway?”

    “You don’t know?”

    “That was never discussed, she just requested you.”

    “Ok, well, according to Hallowthorpe, she apparently saw her dead sister Rebecca a few days ago during the mag-grid overload, she thinks that the overload was a deliberate attack towards her orchestrated by Rebecca,” Gary replies. “I had a look into Hallowthorpe’s history before I arrived, her sister Rebecca was killed in an accident a little over three years ago. It all went through the normal channels of investigation and was treated as a murder when it was revealed the car’s mag-line was hacked to pieces. Her husband was convicted of the murder five months later and iced for life, now suddenly dear old Rebecca has surfaced again, and Caroline believes she is trying to kill her.”

    “So what do you think? Is she losing it?”

    “Why are you so fucking interested in this crazy bitches ramblings?”

    “You need to understand son, some very important and powerful people, people who have vested interest in Air-Thirty-Four, minor shareholders you can call them. What most people don’t know is that Hallowthorpe doesn’t own it all, but she holds the lions share, gets to make decisions, and these minor sharehoders,  they’ve been trying to wrestle it away from her since she took the seat, and if she’s loosing it, if she’s walking the sharp road into insainty, they could use that to push her out.”

    “Always trying to work the voodoo aren’t you Bill? What did they promise you, a chair on the board, a step up the ladder?”

    “That’s none of your concern son, you have to understand, these people hold a fair bit of power in this city, and I have no choice, but the more I cooperate, the better it is for everyone.”

    “Better for you, you mean? But you do whatever deals you’ve got to make, just leave me the fuck out of it,” Gary says. “And to answer your question, I’m certain someone’s giving her a shakedown, although I have no idea who. I’ve got a possible suspect in her little toy boy Dillinger, he fits all the flashing lights shit that you look for in cases like this. But it doesn’t matter, I’ve got cases I need to get back to, cases that have sat on my desk since I’ve been in Memorial, so you can handball this off to someone else whose better equipped to deal this sort of shit.”

    “I know you like to do things your own way, but Hallowthorpe, she wants you to handle this case, even after your little outburst, so we have no choice but to play along.”

    “I don’t give a fuck Bill, I don’t work this shit.”

    “Just do me this one favour son,” Gleeson says. “Just look into it, a day at the most, remember our deal, I’ll ignore you using Fontaine.”

    “For fuck sake Bill,” Gary says as he sits there for a few moments. “Understand that I’m not going to waste my time, I’ll keep an eye on Dillinger for a little while and see what falls from the tree, after that I’m done with Hallowthorpe,” Gary replies quickly as he disconnects the commline and watches as Christopher Dillinger leave Hallowthorpe Estate. “Engage camouflage mode, file five nine eight player,” Gary says, in a matter of seconds a hologram image of an eXpresso delivery bike is layered over Gary and the AC-Stinger, and he slowly follows after Christopher.

     

    END OF ACT I

     

  • Day 31 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Two – Act IV

    Day 31 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Two – Act IV

    “Superintendent, you’re not going to believe what I’ve got on this Maddison Gray!” Oliver yells as he runs to Gleeson’s side, his outstretched arm holding a datapad.

    “What’s so damned exciting?” Gleeson asks as he grabs the datapad from Oliver and his mouth drops.

    “I was watching Channel Thirty-One, when I saw the news report on the latest killing, and there she was, just standing there.”

    “Maddison ‘Fucking’ Gray,” Gleeson mutters in amazement.

    “Correct, so I contacted Thirty-One, and they sent me all the footage from the reports they had done on the murder scenes, and you’re not going to believe who I saw at each of them?”

    “I bet I could take a guess,” Gleeson replies as he looks at the photos on the datapad.

    “I tried Gary’s commline again but he’s still not answering, I even tried his phone and still nothing. Sir it’s a trap, Maddison Gray is the killer and Gary’s been set up, but not in the way he expected.”

    “Damn it, get a trace on his bike and let’s get our arses downtown before it’s too late.”

     

    #

     

    Maddison stands over Gary, slowly walking around him like a shark preparing to move in for the kill. All the while a pool of blood continues to grow underneath him.

    “You know I had a feeling I couldn’t put my finger on, the way the note was written. You weren’t telling me this was your next victim, you were showing me who you were. Guess I pushed all the right buttons, even made you kill your girlfriend Kessler.”

    “Fuck you, she was always going to end up on the table, you just brought the end game on quicker,” Maddison says as she drives a boot into Gary’s stomach. “You may have got a reaction out of me, but I pushed your buttons right back, you piece of shit. I knew the great Gary Jackson would go it alone, would charge through all of downtown looking for me, trying to save another innocent life, when in reality all you were doing was setting yourself up for my table, where you’ve always belonged,” Maddison replies with a laugh and continues to circle like a shark, Gary begins to feel faint as the blood continues to escape his body.

    “Why this game?”

    “I suppose you deserve to know why you’re going to die, as you still seem unable to remember me,” Maddison says. “We have met before, you and I, although you might not remember. It was some years ago, I had been raped by a group of scum, and you promised you would find them and make sure they paid. But you never did make them pay did you, it was I who made them pay in the end. I made them suffer as they slowly bled to death, I did that and you, the great Gary Jackson, did nothing to keep his promise!”

    “What the fuck are you talking about?” Gary says as he tries to stop the blood flow from his arm, but his strength slowly begins to grow weaker.

    “You made me a promise, you swore they would pay, and you never did anything, not you, not the officer who dealt with me after you, not one of you helped, you just moved me on to someone else,” Maddison yells. “So I decided the only way to get your attention was to kill and eventually you would see me, eventually you would have to face your broken promises.”

    “You’re unhinged Maddison, let me help you?”

    “There you go again, promising help that you do not intend to keep, do you think I am a fool?” Maddison says as she places the shotgun to Gary’s head. “No more lies, it’s time for you to face your judgement,” she says, drawing up all the energy he can Gary smacks the shotgun away as Maddison pulls the trigger, the blast narrowly misses his head. Frantically he grabs her by the wrist and forces her to the ground, and they both struggle back and forth for a few moments. Gary is amazed at her strength and how little he has right now, but he continues to try and force her to let go of the shotgun, but she pulls it between them and a shot fires off. For a few moments they both stare blankly at each other as the smell of burning flesh fills the air, and smoke rises from between them, in the distance the sounds of approaching sirens can be heard.

     

    #

     

    Caroline Hallowthorpe stares at the photos of her newly resurfaced sister, and they have left her more of an emotional wreck than she was before.

    “I told you it was her,” Caroline says as she throws the photos at Christopher.

    “I just can’t believe it’s really Rebecca, its just not possible.”

    “I told you it was her, and these photos prove it,” Caroline says, the distress in her voice more apparent than before.

    “I’m sorry I doubted you, but one thing that worries me is how quickly our private investigator found her.”

    “It’s because she wants me to know she’s out there, coming for me.”

    “We’ll resolve this Caroline, I promise.”

    “It’s clear what she wants, but no ghost is taking this company from me, I’ve worked too hard to make it what it is now,” Caroline says. “We only have one option, and that is to get some professional assistance, with my contacts in Divisional I should be able to find the right person for the job.”

    “Are you sure that’s wise? Surely we could find someone in the private sector who could perform the task more adequately.”

    “No, I’ve already begun to place the wheels in motion,” Caroline replies as she throws a newspad onto Christopher’s lap, “This is who I want to remove my problem.”

    Christopher stares at the image on the screen and then back to Caroline, “You cannot be serious?”

    “I’m very serious Christopher, he is the one who will remove Rebecca from my life once and for all.”

     

    #

     

    Gary sits on the side of his bed staring at the ground, lost within his head as he tries to make sense of the last few days, and his short stay at Bay Side Memorial has not helped. With nothing to distract him from his thoughts, Gary is like a prisoner in his own mind. Superintendent Gleeson knocks on the open door as he makes his way in.

    “How are you son?” Gleeson asks.

    Gary holds up his new bioengineered hand, “Good as new, the hand feels weird, but it’s not as weird as it was the first time I lost one. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a projectile weapon up close, I’d forgotten how much they fucking hurt, shit shards of metal everywhere. The doc said he removed eighty-five separate shards from my side, still it’s not the worst thing that came out of all this, at least I’m still alive.” Gleeson places a hand on Gary’s shoulder.

    “It was touch and go for a little while son, but you’re a stubborn son of a bitch from time to time.”

    “This has all been one crazy ride, the last few weeks make less sense now I know why she did, what she did. I mean, she took out the first four guys because they gang rapped her and then she just kept on going, taking down more scum. I guess that’s where Kessler came into it, she must have provided her with a list of the ones who got away, but why not just come after me? Why wait? She obviously blamed me as much as the guys who actually raped her, sitting here it’s just been doing my head in.”

    “Don’t beat yourself up about this one son, there was nothing you could’ve done to stop any of this from happening, sometimes people are who they are, if it wasn’t you, she would’ve set her sights on someone else.”

    “You didn’t come here to give me life’s answers Bill, what do you want?”

    Gleeson laughs, “Am I that transparent?”

    “Yes, remember, I’ve known you my whole life, and you only give these sort of speeches when you’ve got an ulterior motive, are you busting my arse down the sergeant because of the shit with the media?”

    “No, no, you got the result we were hoping for, it’s of no value to anyone higher up for you to be reprimanded over that.”

    “It must be something big that you want from me then, because you’re stroking my ego as well, why don’t you just get on with it.”

    Gleeson laughs again, ”OK, I want you to do me a favour, and, you do this, and I’ll turn a blind eye to you bringing in Fontaine to help with the leg work from time to time.”

    “Cut the shit Bill, just tell me what you want me to do?”

    “Not what but who, and that who is Caroline Hallowthorpe.”

     

    END OF CHAPTER TWO

  • Day 28 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Two – Act III

    Day 28 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Two – Act III

    District-Three PD feels a small tremor as Oliver slams down his commline, “Fuck it Gary pick up the line!”

    “Problems?” Superintendent Gleeson asks.

    “I tried contacting Gary, but he’s not picking up sir.”

    “You don’t know Gary that well do you? He’s not going to follow the book on this one, he’s not like his brother Niles,” Gleeson says. “Those boys are different in every way, and Gary well he’s got time slipping away, most likely he’s tearing his way through all the sources he has downtown until someone gives him something to go on, and then he isn’t going to stop until he finds this Maddison Gray, if that is her name.”

    “But what if it’s all a setup? What if the killer is after Gary and not Maddison Gray?”

    “You don’t think Gary hasn’t already though of that?” Gleeson replies. “Divisional has made you too comfortable Oliver. Gary knows the Downtown area better than anyone on my squad and he knows what killers think like, of course he knows that he’s the target. Christ even a child could see that. But you see Oliver, Gary has to find this girl to find our killer and he’s willing to put his own life on the line. That’s why he’s good at his job, because he always knows the risks, but just doesn’t care.”

    “But why would he do something so careless like this? Why would he go alone?”

    “Because he has to, if this killer is after him, the only way they’re going to come into the open is by knowing Gary is alone.”

    “It’s suicidal, that’s what it is.”

    “That’s your opinion, find out what you can about this Maddison Gray and maybe find something that connects her to the other murders, that’s what you’re here for, connect the dots for crying out loud,” Gleeson says. “Let Gary do his job, and you do yours. I’ve got enough on my plate at the moment as it is, half an hour ago some fucking nut job blew up sixteen lanes of mag-rail in uptown, so I don’t want to think about this one any more than I have to. Now go dig and come back to me when you have something worth worrying about.”

     

    #

     

    The further Downtown you go, the worse the clubs become, except for The Acid House, it’s a sure fire bet that no matter where this place was located, it would still be as putrid and dangerous as ever. Gary quickly dismounts his bike and heads towards the building. Two bouncers guarding the door attempt to stop him, in several fluid movements Gary sends them both to the ground and barges through the doorway and heads straight to the bar.

    “District-Three PD, I need you to answer a few questions!” he yells at the barman, the barman turns his back and continues to serve the small group of customers hanging around the bar. Gary pushes his way through the crowd and grabs the barman by the throat and slams him into the counter. “Maybe you didn’t hear me before. District-Three PD have you seen this girl here tonight?” Gary asks as he pulls out the photo of Maddison Gray and shoves it into the barman’s face.

    “Never seen her before,” the barman replies frantically.

    “Wrong answer,” Gary says as he slams the barman’s head into the counter again. “Have you seen her here tonight?”

    “She was in here earlier with Jones, but they left hours ago.”

    “Where did they go?”

    “I have no idea, honest to god!”

    “I don’t believe you,” Gary says as he slams the barman’s head into the counter again.

    “Maybe you should listen to the man,” a voice says from behind. Gary pulls out his blaster as he swings around, facing the two bouncers from earlier and another three, plus a thin man standing in between them, wearing a black suit and tie.

    “Please, lower your blaster, you don’t know how hard it is to find good help these days.”

    “I don’t give a fuck about your problems, you’re the owner I take it?”

    “Yes, Domenic Swan, and you are?”

    “I’m the guy asking the questions,” Gary replies quickly. “I’m looking for a girl by the name of Maddison Gray, I know she hangs with a guy named Jones. Your barman said they were here earlier, but he has no idea where they went, me I think he knows, and I bet you do too.”

    “Quite a lot of questions and hypothesis, but I’m sorry I can’t help you. I have no idea who this Maddison Gray or Jones characters are. You see I tend not to associate with the scum that come here.”

    “Bullshit, answer the question, or I’ll damage more than your barman’s face.”

    “You amuse me,” Domenic says with a laugh.

    “Last chance arsehole,” Gary says as he prepares himself for the attack.

    “I’m sorry but as I said there…” is all Domenic can get out before Gary smashes his way into the group, sending three of the five bouncers to the ground, before the remaining two tackle him.

    Domenic frantically makes his way out of the bar and towards his car out the back, as he opens the door a blaster is placed to his head.

    “Tell me what I need to know or you’ll be nothing but another dead piece of shit,” Gary says.

    “Jones runs a brothel on the other side of town, some horrible little place called The Royal Treatment. This girl you are after is his sister, or lover or both, I don’t know or care just leave me the fuck alone,” Domenic replies as he falls down to his knees. Gary slams Domenic’s head into the side of the car and runs back to his bike, leaping on it quickly he heads off towards The Royal Treatment, his teeth slam together as the AC-Stinger hits it’s top speed, his eyes move wildly from left to right as time frantically ticks down. This is when he operates at his best, with no restrictions, and if he was honest, really honest, he would tell you he loves it when it’s like this.

     

    #

     

    Oliver sits at his desk looking at the photo of Maddison Gray, ‘Damn it where have I see you before,’ he looks up from his desk and sees Channel Thirty-One’s news report about the body found earlier, and a cold shiver goes down his spine as he spots an all too familiar face in the crowd. ‘Holy fuck there is no way?’ Quickly he grabs his phone and dials a number, a face of a young girl appears on the screen.

    “Channel Thirty-One, this is Fiona.”

    “Fiona, put Greg Phelps on, tell him it’s Charles Oliver from Delta Divisional.”

    “One moment I’ll see if he’s available Mister Oliver,” Fiona says, a Channel Thirty-One’s logo appears along with some old time music, a man appears seconds later, in his early fifties, a mustache and a bald head.

    “Charles, what do I owe this call to?”

    “I need all the file footage you took at the Slasher crime scenes, more importantly, the first on scene footage.”

    “You’ve got a lead on someone?”

    “Not sure, you give me this, and I’ll make sure you’re the first to know if we have any breaking news.”

    “I’ll send them straight to you, remember first on any breaking news?”

    “You’ll be the first to know,” Oliver replies as he hangs up the phone, his computer begins to let out several loud beeps. ‘Let’s see if my hunch pays off.’ He turns to face the screen as the files start arriving.

     

    #

     

    Hallowthorpe Estate, built in the early days of Delta City by Caroline’s grandfather, it has been her home since she took over the family company. Caroline limps in through the doorway with the help of a tall man, once in, she pushes him away.

    “Leave me be Jacob!”

    “Please Miss, are you sure you’re ok?”

    “For the last time Jacob, yes I am, now leave me be,” Caroline replies with frustration.

    “As you wish, remember if you need me, call,” Jacob says as he leaves Caroline alone, she grabs a bottle from a small bar against the wall and fills a glass and takes a large mouthful then tops up the glass again. Grabbing her phone she quickly dials a number, moments later a man appears on the screen, in his late thirties, well kept, wearing black-rimmed glasses.

    “Caroline, my god, you look like you’ve been through hell, what’s wrong?”

    “I’ll tell you what’s wrong, Christopher, I was almost killed, that’s what’s wrong,” Caroline replies. “It was Rebecca, Christopher she tried to kill me.”

    “Rebecca who?”

    “Rebecca, Rebecca my sister you fool.”

    “Have you been drinking Caroline?”

    “Don’t talk to me like I’m a simpleton you bastard!” Caroline yells. “It was Rebecca, the bitch smiled at me, she tried to kill me tonight Christopher, I am sure of it.”

    “Look maybe I should come over.”

    “For crying out loud Christopher I was not seeing things, it was Rebecca, not a figment of my imagination. It was her, and she tried to kill me and make it look like an accident!”

    “Look calm down, I’m coming over, I don’t think you should be alone right now you’re obviously having some sort of episode.”

    “I’m not having an episode!” Caroline screams. “I know my own sister when I see her.”

    “Caroline it’s just not possible, I was at her funeral, and I saw her body, she’s dead. There’s no way you could have seen her tonight, let alone her trying to kill you.”

    “I know what I saw, Rebecca is alive!”

    “Well, what do you want me to do then if you’re not willing to talk this out rationally?”

    “I want you to hire someone to find her, I want that bitch found and taken care of!” Caroline yells as she slams down the phone, she grabs her glass and takes another mouthful.

     

    #

     

    His bike comes to a stop and Gary leaps off and charges towards an old run down building, the words Royal Treatment faded on its side. He rips open the door and storms in, three girls sit on an old couch, and a man stands behind a small service desk, this place used to be one of the most luxurious hotels in its time, but now it’s just a dump. Gary raises his blaster at the man behind the counter, who stands their petrified, the girls run screaming from the room.

    “District-Three PD, I want Jones.”

    “He isn’t here.”

    “Bullshit, I want Jones now!”

    “Can I help you officer?” a voice asks from behind, Gary turns to face a scrawny young man, dressed in clothes that are too expensive for this part of town unless you make money from all the deadbeats.

    “Are you Jones?”

    “Depends on what you want?”

    “I want you not to screw with me!” Gary yells as he fires a shot past the man’s head.

    “Alright, Alright, I’m Jones, what do you want?” he screams holding his hands in the air.

    “Maddison Gray, where is she?”

    “Upstairs, room twenty-three, but she’s not alone.”

    He grabs Jones by the scruff of the neck and slams him into the wall on his way past, his unconscious body crashes to the floor. Quickly Gary is up the stairway and without difficulty spots room twenty-three. He doesn’t even bother to knock, driving a boot into the door that sends it crashing to the floor, causing the two people in the room to jump with fright.

    “You, fuck off,” Gary says to the male, the man quickly tries to gathers his clothes, and Gary grabs him by his hair and throws him out into the passageway.

    “What’s this all about? This place is licensed, and I haven’t broken the law, well not yet anyway,” Maddison says.

    “My name is Detective Inspector, Gary Jackson, from District-Three PD,” Gary replies holding up his badge. “Get dressed quickly, we have reason to believe your life is in danger.”

    Maddison throws back the sheets, showing off her naked body and slowly climbs out of the bed. Gary slightly embarrassed turns around, he quickly gives the passageway a check over noticing an emergency exit at the end of the hall. It’s then that a shot rips into Gary’s back sending him crashing to the floor, his blaster goes tumbling out of reach. Frantically he scrambles forwards as he tries to reach for his blaster when another shot blows his outstretched hand off. He screams in pain and turns to face Maddison, she stands over him with a shotgun in her hand and a demented smile on her face.

     

    END OF ACT III

     

  • Day 24 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Two – Act II

    Day 24 – Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Two – Act II

    The House Lucretia, one of the many high-classed establishments in Uptown Delta City, where all the rich and powerful come to fulfill their many needs. Some as simple as food, others more complex, but when credits are involved this place knows no boundaries.

    Tonight Caroline Hallowthorpe, known the world over as the last real media tycoon makes her way out into the night. Caroline, of course, cannot take all the credit for the company she now runs, it has taken several generations to make AirThirtyFour into the vast empire it is. Caroline herself, has only been the power behind Air34 for the last three years, but in those three years, she has changed the face and need of news and how it is controlled. Before Caroline the company was run by her older sister Rebecca, who inherited the reigns from their father, but Rebecca was killed in a car accident before she ever really had a chance to make the company hers.

    “Home Miss?” the computerised driver asks as she climbs into her awaiting limo.

    “Yes, get me out of this place,” Caroline replies, the limo heads towards Hallowthorpe estate, she is traveling for no more than a few minutes when several explosions take place further ahead, and the limo comes to a sudden halt, Caroline jumps in fright. For a few moments there is nothing but silence, and then the limo rises into the air and crashes into the ground violently. Caroline is thrown around inside and smashes her head, blood gushes out of the wound instantly, she tries the door desperately but it won’t budge.

    “Computer, open the door!” she screams but there is no response, only silence. Out of the corner of her eye Caroline notices a woman standing outside near one of the doors, she bends down and looks in, and Caroline goes white as a ghost as she locks eyes with this woman. ‘Rebecca?’ She gives her a smile and disappears into the darkness outside leaving Caroline trapped and frozen with fear inside.

     

    #

     

    Within the darkness and dampness of a seedy downtown apartment, a figure prepares themselves for the night ahead.

    “Tonight Jackson, is the night it ends,” Sonya says as she moves out of the darkness. “Soon you will pay for broken promises, soon you will know the name of your killer, for tonight you pay for your sins with blood you son of a fucking bitch!”

     

    #

     

    Gary sits on his bike in the downtown street of Ratchets Lane, known to many of the City’s perverted patrons as the place to go if you want a cheap, good time.

    “Maddison Gray, no address?” Gary asks.

    “Nothing current, her last known address was Whispering Heights, but she is long gone from there. It’s like she just up and disappeared, and Ghost can’t find anything else on her at the moment. Did I mention how photogenic your face looked splashed all over the tube last night? Made you look at least ten years younger, bet Gleeson loved that?” Fontaine replies.

    “He suggested it, but you can just eat it up shit head, I know you’re jealous.”

    “Old man loves taking risks when it’s not his neck.”

    “Time is wasting Fontaine, back to this Gray kid, if she up and disappeared off the grid it’s more than likely she’s involved in something pretty ugly, right?”

    “I’d say so, Ghost is running her picture through the cities camera systems, but if she’s lower in the city then there’s no hope, half the systems down there are fucked beyond repair. But if we get lucky and get a hit, I’ll buzz you.”

    “What about Kessler?”

    “Ghost is toying with her records, over the last few weeks she’s made a few bizarre purchases, but nothing crazy. Her phone records are interesting though, she has a number, and was a regular user, social media and the works, but over the last few weeks her usage just dropped off, which suggests maybe she was using a clone or two or maybe more. Her credit records show she withdrew a bit here and a bit there, really out of character stuff, but we’re checking every avenue we can and hoping something might drop, I also looped her pic and info to Johnny L to see if he had any meets with her, but he gave me the big negative. So if she went deep downtown we might as well forget it, we’d have no chance of getting any information from anywhere down there, pretty much like I do with my ex-wives. Anyway, besides that, there’s nothing that would really warrant any more of our time, but we’ll still plug away and see what we find, if anything falls out you’ll know.”

    “I owe you Fontaine, hopefully, Leroy will be able to fill in the blanks on this Maddison Gray,” Gary says as he hangs up his phone and picks up his commline patching it though to Oliver at District-Three PD.

    “We’ve found nothing yet sir, have you spoken to this Leroy person?” Oliver asks.

    “Not yet, but I’ve got a name for our target, Maddison Gray, see what you can find out for me.”

    “I’m not going to ask how you managed to get that information, I’m sure Superintendent Gleeson would not approve, but I’ll run her name through every database I have access to, and some that I don’t,” Oliver replies.

    “What about Kessler?”

    “Nothing so far, she’s pretty clean, a few attitude issues shown on her records, but otherwise she was a stand up officer. Applied for her sergeant’s badge a few times but could never pass the exam, last time was two months ago, apparently her inspector was one of her biggest defenders, until she broke his jaw that is. I have to ask again, are you sure you won’t take my advice and get some officers down there to help you conduct your search?”

    “They will only slow me down, sorry Oliver, I’ve got to go, I’ve just spotted Leroy,” Gary replies as he disconnects his commline and heads towards the street corner.

    Five girls stand on the corner attempting to look somewhat desirable as Leroy makes his way around, making sure each of them are flaunting their goodies for all prospective buyers to be enticed with, he stops in front of a frail, blond girl.

    “Fuck girl, if you don’t get some customers soon, I’ll start thinking about replacing your skinny white arse,” Leroy says.

    “No, please Leroy, I need this, my dealers don’t give me credit anymore, and I need it to survive,” she pleads as she grabs Leroy by the arm, he throws her to the ground.

    “Get your hands off me, fucking clean yourself up and start getting some paying customers, otherwise you’re done,” Leroy says as he walks away, running smack into Gary.

    “No way to talk to a lady Leroy,” Gary says as he smashes Leroy across the face with a solid right hook, sending him crashing into the ground.

    “Hey man, that’s police brutality!”

    Gary grabs Leroy by the throat and pulls him to his feet and slams him into the wall, “Don’t encourage me, this girl work for you Leroy?” he asks shoving the photo of Maddison Gray in his face.

    “That no tit bitch isn’t good enough to work for me, I like girls with big tits Jackson, my customers want their girls to have big bouncy tits, she’s flat as a six-year-old, she’s not one of mine!”

    “Don’t play dumb,” Gary says. “Look at the photo again Leroy, you see that ugly motherfucker behind her? That’s you. Now one last time, have you seen this girl down here before and is she one of yours?”

    “She isn’t one of mine, I swear man,” Leroy says. “But I have seen her, she hangs out at the Acid House, usually with a guy name Jones, that’s all I know.”

    “What about a District Cop by the name of Kessler, Brunette, dark-skinned, ever see her hanging around?”

    “Never man, no blue’s come down this far except for you,” Gary drives a knee up into Leroy’s stomach sending him to the ground.

    “I hope your right Leroy, if I find out you’ve fucked me around, I’ll be coming back and we’ll discuss what real police brutality is,” Gary says as he runs off towards his bike and jumps on, his commline lights up as a call comes through, Gary ignores the attempted communication and takes off towards the Acid House.

     

    END OF ACT II

     

  • Day 21- Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Two – Act I

    Day 21- Lies Of A Broken World – Chapter Two – Act I

    Her cold dead eyes stare into his, her mouth slightly open as though she was trying to say something, but he knows she is beyond telling him what he needs to know. The male seems like all the rest, a nobody, somebody they pulled into this game with no knowledge of what they had walked into. But the girl, even though she can’t talk to him, she is. Tonight, the discovery of the two bodies found on the outskirts of Sunset Heights under the new message ‘Come, play with me Jackson!’ shows a deviation from what has come before. In his eyes confirming that his middle figure salute a few hours ago pushed the killer to take a new step and now Gary stands there, looking at the two bodies before him and contemplates how this will end and more importantly, when.

    “The male is Jordan Ritcher, nothing interesting about him, a few aggravated assaults on his records, other than that nothing. The woman though, she’s the interesting one, Sally Kessler. She was a constable right here in Three.”

    “She looks familiar, kind of, I might have seen her around a few times, but I can’t be sure, but I’m sure that’s not going to be what’s so interesting about her, is it?”

    “You’re correct in that assumption, her records state that she recently had an altercation with her inspector and was removed from active duty with no return date set, this all happened a little over a month ago, I mean, that’s what her official records state anyway when I checked her file.”

    “And the unofficial?”

    “It was more the right hook that she connected with, according to the rumour mill, that’s what got her removed from active duty. But there are no records of any disciplinary hearings going forward, so you can take that information anyway you like.”

    “What was the reason she clocked her inspector?” Gary asks.

    “Apparently it was over the way they were handling a case that involved a young girl who had been raped, she seemed to disagree with their bed side manner and took it upon herself to stand up for the girls rights. Here’s where it gets even more interesting, the man who the girl accused of raping her was victim number eight Harry Thorpe.”

    “So it gets interesting, I mean, I’ve been where she is, even clocked a few high and mighty fuckers myself, but that doesn’t scream serial killer wannabe accomplice or anything. The thing that rings clear is for this Thorpe to turn up in our list of victims, why didn’t we pick this up before?”

    “The case was dropped, the girl withdrew her statement.”

    “You think they got to her, made a deal, or whatever?”

    “No sure, but I do know, Sally, she isn’t like our killers usual victims, she was combat trained, two years out in the wastelands, her record is long and from all accounts she was a tough as nails bitch. So whoever did this had the element of surprise on their side, I’d say she knew the attacker, and was comfortable enough to have her guard down.” Danny says.

    “So what are you saying?”

    “I’m not sure, compared to the rest, she was fully clothed when the attack happened, and I say this because I’ve got clothing fragments in the entry point. I’m telling you Gary, there is so much about this body that screams different we would be stupid to ignore it.”

    “So either she caught our killer in the act, or she was a possible accomplice that outlived her usefulness. Which, in any situation like this, signals a major change coming, either the end or our killer is going to step up their cycle, which is why we’ve got two bodies and a change in the message.”

    “Both, or neither, I’m not the detective here, but I agree with you that something is coming, the game is either going to come to an end or our killer is going to start giving us more bodies per site, and I’d say you going nationwide and sticking your middle figure up at them pushed their game plan forward some.”

    “That was the intent, they’ve been sending us in a spin since this all started and we’ve been running around like rats in a maze, pushing them into the end game is what we needed. The message they sent, in the blood, suggests an ending but the two bodies suggest upping the ante, either way I’m sure the next twenty-four hours will answer the question.” It’s then that Gary spies the young man walking towards him though the police barrier out of the corner of his eye. ‘Fuck Me,’ “Oliver, I told you to stay at the station.”

    “Sorry sir, but I…” Oliver’s reply is cut short as he spots the bodies and throws up.

    “Jesus Oliver,” Gary says as he grabs him by the arm and forces him away from the scene. “What the hell are you doing here?”

    “Superintendent Gleeson wanted me to give you this,” Oliver replies as he holds out an envelope. “It arrived at the station thirty minutes ago, we’ve already opened it, and it’s clean, but we felt you should see it straight away.”

    Gary takes the envelope and quickly pulls out a picture of a young girl from within it, he turns over the picture and his eyes widen as he reads the words written on the back.

    ‘Tonight it ends, come and stop me if you can Jackson.’

    ‘I’m gathering this is what the son of a bitch meant by time to play.’ Placing the photo in his jacket pocket he looks back at Oliver, who is eagerly awaiting a response, but the look Gary gives him tells him all he needs to know.

    “We’ve known since the second body turned up on our doorstep that you play a major role in this sicko’s agenda sir, but this is the first time they’ve attempted to communicate directly with you, besides the gifts they leave underneath your name.”

    “Gifts?”

    “The body’s sir, it’s like a cat bringing home a rat or a bird and leaving it at the front door to proudly show their owners.”

    “You think this sicko wants to be my fucking pet?”

    “That’s not what I’m saying sir, all we know is that right now, the lines of communication are open, and we just have to find a way to seize this as an advantage.”

    “The only thing I see as an advantage at the moment is this fucker has given us their next victim, all we have to do is find her before she ends up like the rest. Has she got a name?”

    “Not yet, we’re still trying to find a match, if she’s one of the illegal outsiders, then it’s going to make it harder finding her.”

    “I know where that picture was taken, dirty little area called Ratchets Lane, a small-time thug by the name of Leroy runs that area. He might know who she is, or at least, know where I can find her,” Gary replies. “We only have hours to find this girl Oliver, get back to the station and find out what you can and I’ll go see Leroy.”

    “Are you sure that’s wise, why risk putting yourself in the firing line?”

    “Read the letter Oliver, this fucker wants me,” Gary replies as he climbs aboard his modified AC-Stinger, the latest law enforcement gravity motorcycle to be rolled out to Delta City PD. With speeds over two hundred miles per hour and other enchantments such as layered hologram camouflage technology and an advanced weapon system linked to the riders helmet, makes it a valuable addition to helping fight crime on the streets.

    “Be careful sir.”

    Gary puts his helmet on, and takes off towards Ratchets Lane, brushing off Oliver’s concerned words.

     

    END OF ACT I