The White Death

Chapter lll

A light sprinkle created a muffled atmosphere in the police cruiser. Walker rode shotgun while Denise Smith drove.

They had known each other since the beginning of their journey on the force. Denise had just graduated from Gothem City Community College, fresh faced and full of hope. He had been surprised when she corrected his form at the shooting range. Most women tended to be overly agreeable around him, aside from his own family and close friends. It was refreshing.

The intensity in her honey brown eyes had intimidated him. This was a woman who knows what she wants and will go get it. At first he stumbled over his words whenever she was around, but gradually they grew very close with the help of pain in the ass training exercises. The power of shared complaining.

They had just passed 5th Street when she finally broke the silence.

"So, are you ever gonna let me in on the details to this case or what?"

He chuckled, she's not much for pleasentries. Walker studied her for a minute, deciding how much information he should disclose. Who was he kidding, she has been the most trustworthy person in his life.

He cleared his throat "As you know Commissioner Gordon assigned me - "

"Us." She smiled at him. Walker rolled his eyes.

"Us," he corrected "a potentially high profile case. These first few days as always are critical in determining what the media catches wind of. The quicker we find a lead the eaisier it is to contain the beast."

She pursed her lips "All this I know dummy, tell me the details." She looked over at him "Everything you know."

Walker explained how there was no obivious pattern aside from the initials in the palm of the victims hands. There were no common people among the victims nor was there even the slightest resemblence in their lifestyles.

Her brow furrowed. "What could possibly link them? Are there any previous convictions?"

He shook his head "No, that was the first thing Gordon checked." Walker paused thinking. "Actually, I have no idea why he didn't call you in as well this morning for the briefing."

"There was a briefing?"

"Well, it was just us. I never heard of it till 5 minutes before."

"Hm. Well, regardless we can't change that so you'll just have to put up with re-going over possiblilites with me." Denise gave him a small smile.

The police radio started picking up erratic words. Denise turned up the volume listening carefully.

Calling all available units near the City Park on 6th Street. Shooting, two officers down. Possible civilian casualties.

Her face turned to stone as she flipped the siren on and swerved around traffic to get to the park.

Shooting. Walker tried to recall which team had reported being around there last. His heart started to race, and his mouth was dry. He started double checking his gear and securing the straps.

Denise pulled on to the grass and quickly shut the engine down and secured her own kevlar vest and helmet.

They made eye contact. "Cover me." She darted across the lawn making herself as small of a target as possible.

Dammit Smith! Can't we just come up with a plan first before you get your ass shot. Walker followed her at about a distance of 50ft. That's when he saw it. A body impaled with the hand of St. Jefferd's statue. The man was hanging limp from the bronze arm, not that anyone could tell it was a bronze statue anymore. Blood pooled at the bottom of it and covered the poor saint in a thin veil of crimson.

A gunshot echoed, snapping him back to the task at hand. Denise. He looked around. Fuck. Walker darted across the cement pathes until he came out of the pine trees that overlooked a small pond. Five figures crowded together in a blur by the waterfront.

From what he could see, Denise was one of them. Four were uniformed officers, two unmoving. Walker ran over to them. Denise noticed him and started walking his way.

"What the hell happened?" He panted, catching his breath.

Earl and Gary got an anonymous call about the body on the statue and went to check it out. When they got here there were a few shooters or something. These guys passed out before the other two could get much out of them. An ambulance is on the way."

His mind buzzed with activity, working out the puzzle "Wait, what was the last gunshot I heard then?"

"I took one of the shooters down just behind there." She pointed across to the edge of the trees. "More units will show up any minute, I'm going to go see if Tom has killed the bastard yet." Smith trudged off towards the shooter and Tom.

Walker turned back to the hurt officers. He knelt down to the ground. Earl and Gary were just about to retire from the force. His nose started tingling and he felt his face flush. Fuck. "Keep pressure on the bullet holes. I'm gonna go find the ambulance." He told the two concious officers, although they were already keeping firm pressure.

John heard the faint cries of the siren in the distance. He ran towards it.