Manny Rodriguez was a life long Cop and with approaching forty years on the force he thought he had seen it all, but in the past ten years the crimes of the SPIKES had given Homicide a whole new meaning. Rodriguez had six children ranging from thirty two to fourteen by his long suffering wife Maria, only two remaining at home Claudia 19 and Chico 14. He had intentionally where possible intentionally sidelined any involvement in the crimes of the SPIKES as strange things seemed to happen to relatives of any Officers involved, kids would have freak accidents, pets could be poisoned or run over, grandparents had fallen downstairs, out houses and sheds would mysteriously catch fire. Not so mysterious just the SPIKES way. Gena Pollock however still lived at home with her widowed mother and until now she had no idea what they were dealing with, "Should I be afraid? she asked Rodriguez, "Not so much afraid as careful" he answered. As for Rodriguez the fact that he was the first officer on site meant that there was no way out and with retirement looming in nine months time he took on the mantle of Richard the Lionheart and this would be his last Crusade. A week of questions, questions and more questions went by while they waited for the Pathology and Forensic reports. Steven Clark and his family had died of the most horrendous wounds and it would seem that they were made to watch the suffering of each other and the subsequent death of a family. As the reports began to filter in they gave up nothing new. Forensically they could work out where each victim was, prior to being taken to the basement. Claire Clark had been in her bedroom where they found torn items of clothing plus spillages of make-up on the floor and bedside table. There were also scratches on the wood-plank flooring consistent with material found embedded under her fingernails. Sylvia Clark appears to have been in the living room where fragments of her hair and skin were found on the sofa in much larger amounts than someone relaxing watching TV. She had a pigment on her cheek which suggested that she had brushed against possibly a swimmers wet suit, there were even micro particles of salt, whoever this was he or she liked the ocean. Steven Clark was most likely in the kitchen as he was wearing a man type apron halved in two by the vicious assault on his body. His finger prints were found on a newly washed kitchen knife lying by a chopping board where vegetables were being prepared for a meal. As for Trent Clark, there was no sign of him. Nothing was found of the attackers, they would appear to have been wearing 100% body coverings footprints, fingerprints, in fact no DNA whatsoever. Two different neighbors witnessed six persons leave the house, two of which seemed to be dragging a small boy whom they identified as Trent Clark. They left in an eight seater Volkswagen van which was later found abandoned in the car park of a disused clothing factory, it had been set alight. Pathology fared no better all objects of violence had been removed, except in the case of Steven Clark who had almost certainly died from the eight inch nail thrust through his forehead into the wooden beam. The supposition with Sylvia Clark was that she had bled to death following the removal of her hands and lower legs, and Claire may have died following blows to the back of her head as she was dragged backwards down the basement stairs. The only thing not related to the killers was a small amount of Cocaine found in the nose of Steven Clark and traces of the same in his Gut. Captain Sean Malone called the 9am meeting of the investigating team to order, and prompted Manny Rodriguez to bring them up to date with the Pathology and Forensic findings, which he then related in great detail. "Now we surmise that this is the work of the SPIKES, but we need to keep an open mind" he told them. "Go back over SPIKES related crimes, check for any abductions and the reasons why. Were the abductees related to anyone involved with these cases and if so who. My guess is that this gang are spread far and wide over the whole of New York, even further. Watch past footage, listen for accents or references to places. Bring in Computer Consultants, we know at in some instances that if indeed they were the perpetrators they come on line to claim responsibility. We must move fast we do not want this going cold, and bare in mind your families, we are keeping the team small in case of reputations. Therefore where possible move your families to a safer place, now lets get on with it, thank you" Jacob Clark walked from the Operating Theatre, two heart bye-passes in seven hours, on his mind strong black coffee. "Doctor Clark, there are some people in reception to see you, they look important" it was the words of Senior Nurse Paula Ross. Rodriguez and Pollock had waited patiently for over an hour while munching their way through the sandwich machine. Jacob entered the room and sat down on a chair adjacent to their shared sofa. "Have you any news? he asked. "I will get to that" said Rodriguez, "But first, I asked you if your father had any involvement with drugs and you said no" "I was not my Fathers keeper detective" answered Jacob, "And in this case, no, means not to my knowledge" "It would seem from the Autopsy that your late father was a user of Cocaine" said Detective Pollock, entering the conversation. "But at this stage we do not know to what extent. Had you any suspicions Doctor Clark? "No, none at all" answered Jacob, "I knew he was always under pressure at work, but when I lived at home he showed no signs of stress or worry, he was just a regular guy" "The facts are Doctor Clark that 85% of homicides in New York are drug related therefor this has to be our first piece of evidence in our investigation" said Rodriguez. "Meanwhile if there is anything, no matter how insignificant, please don't hesitate to call" "Have a seat Detectives" said Captain Sean Malone, shuffling through a bunch of files discretely placed on his desk to give the impression of being over run. "Here it comes" whispered Rodriguez as he and Pollock maneuvered to sit down. "The Mayor is up the DA's ass and he's breakin down my door, tell me somethin that makes me happy" he said leaning back on his swivel chair. "Nothing at the moment Captain" answered Rodriguez, "Apart from the drugs found in Steven Clark. But everybodys on it. It will just take time" "Time is what we don't have" replied Collins. "The public are spooked, people are locking their doors, they won't go out at night, this SPIKES thing has got out of hand. So much so that the FBI are now involved and are sending from Washington their top Profiler an Agent Charlie Delano he should arrive by noon, give him everything he needs and stay away from the , I've been forty years on the force bullshit Rodriguez and you Pollock just listen and learn" "We got it Captain" answered Rodriguez as they left the room. "FBI " said Gena Pollock, "ain't never met an FBI Agent before" "Fuck Malone" said Rodriguez, "I have been forty years on the force and this little shit will be six months out of Harvard or Browns or some other up your ass University. We'll just throw the dog a bone and let it choke on it" One- pm and the phone call comes through, "Detective there is a Charlie Delano here for you" said Barney Johnson at the front desk. "No problem send him in" answered Rodriguez. Although the statement mystified Johnson he instructed Charlie Delano where to go. Rodriguez and Pollock sat facing the door, their minds switched to attack mode. The door opened and in walked a stunning, figure to die for red head at first glance around twenty five years old. Rodriguez's Face pointing upwards while his jaw was on his chest. Pollock just smiled. "Hi guys I hope you have been expecting me, I'm Agent Delano" she said walking confidently into the room and taking a seat. "From the outset I would like to say that I am here to assist you. You are the experts, as far as I can see you have had ten years of this SPIKES gang therefor any information you can give me would be most appreciated" Rodriguez's jaw fell back into place. He had been expecting an overweight, badly suited, hamburger eating, know it all Agent, and instead sat in front of him was a polite, well dressed, in some way's humble young lady. "There is a God" he whispered to himself. "Profiler, so how does that work? asked Gena Pollock re-entering the conversation. "Well," said Charlie Delano looking very serious, "For example in your case I would expect that you have grown up in a one parent family possibly in Yonkers or Queens. Junior school, Middle school, High school but never College. You seen the Force as a way out of a life of Gangs and Drugs and here you are now" "Unbelievable" said Gena Pollock, what about Rodriguez? Charlie Delano turned to her right where Manny Rodriguez was sitting with a huge smirk on his face. "Ok" she said, "Wanted to be a Military man but could not leave his Mother. Married his childhood sweetheart. Joined the force around the age of twenty. Multiple kids" "Enough, enough " shouted Rodriguez, now laughing out loudly, "So you done your homework and read our files, very clever" "It's always good to know who you are dealing with" answered Delano. Now down to business, your thoughts on the SPIKES? "It's complicated Delano" Rodriguez began, "I have changed my mind so many times. I could sit here and tell you all of my suspicions but in all honesty I surmise you have read all of the reports for the past ten years and I would really like to hear a completely new prospectus on the case. So I will throw it back to you Delano, what do you think? "Ok, Here's what I think" she answered sitting back and crossing her legs. "I first of all looked at locations, but there are no set locations only the boundaries of New York. I then delved into reasons, revenge? but for what. Drugs, certainly in some cases. Robbery, nothing was ever taken, their crimes are murder and at times punishment, but for what. I then turned my attention to who they are. Are they from a depraved background? If they were then robbery would almost certainly feature in their actions. "Are they middle class, decent job, mortgage, wife family, two cars. The word then is, why. Are they a bunch of rich ass-holes who see life as a game in which they can do what ever they like with no repercussions. This led me to think of something I studied in College. It was a faction at Oxford University in England where a certain group formed what we would call a Faculty where entrance was by status and initiation, which borders on a Cult and this is what I think we are dealing with here. I visualize that they only meet on the Internets, or if in person while wearing their outrageous outfits and masks, probably a farmhouse in the country. But at this stage I have no idea how or why they choose their victims. What do you think? "If indeed this is a Cult who are not known to one another"Said Gena Pollock, "Then how would you expect them to at some stage be known to us? "You are acquainted with the phrase, If you can't beat them join them, and that is what I think we should do. We create a figure who sits nicely with all of their criteria and launch him on the Web, sit back and see if someone takes the bate. All I ask is that you think on it, but in the meantime can you arrange a meeting for me with Jacob Clark? "I can do that" answered Rodriguez, "But for now my head is bursting, for now Gena will get you acquainted with the team and we will meet again in the morning"
YOU ARE READING
SPIKES
General Fictiona wayward childhood, a way to get even, or are the intentions really good.
