Goose City

As I was going up Pippen Hill…

Laying on the wooden table, the dark haired young woman looked up into the bright overhead lights. She giggled. You only paid for an hour, and it’s been two hours. Now untie me. I have other customers waiting.

Shhh! said a masked man as he leaned over her. I'm afraid I can't untie you. Also, you have no more customers. I am the last customer you’ll ever have in this life.

Just untie me and I won't tell Mr. Redbreast, said the dark-haired young woman trying to sound brave. This isn't fun anymore.

Don't worry. Mr. Redbreast will know that I kept you longer than our scheduled time, said the masked man as his black latex gloved hand gave her left breast a rough squeeze. His behavior quickly changed from congenial to hostile. Besides the real fun is just starting you disgusting, disease spreading whore.

I'm serious, Mr. Redbreast doesn't like when a customer gets rough with one of his girls, said the dark-haired young woman nervously. The last guy that got rough ended up in the Serenade with two broken legs.

The masked man smiled behind his mask as his black latex gloved hand traveled from the woman's breast to her quivering flat abdomen. You’re afraid. That's good.

Her line of work required taking certain risks and deep down she knew this was her last. Why are you doing this? the woman asked as her voice trembled.

I'm doing this to rid this magnificent city of people like you, said the man through clenched teeth as he moved his hand to her pubic region. Now, let us begin.

Just untie me and I'll leave your city, pleaded the woman as tears welled up in her eyes Please let me go.

The masked man placed a large knife on her quivering belly while he disrobed. Upon seeing the knife, her dark eye widened while her breathing increased rapidly. Please don't do this, pleaded the woman.

Picking up the knife, he carefully inspected the blade. The city needs to be cleansed. I have taken it upon myself to be the one to do it.

Removing the mask, he leaned into the light giving her a view of the last face she would ever see. It was angelic but with the eyes of the devil. Removing a lock of blond hair out of his face, he smiled, This will hurt. I promise. By the way, you have lovely eyes.

He placed a latex gloved hand over her mouth and nose and held it in place. She struggled for air. The more she struggled, the more pressure he applied. He smiled madly as a tear rolled out of the corner of her left eye. He then placed the point of the knife against her left side and slowly pushed it in up to the hilt. He closed his blue eyes and sobbed heavily.

As I was going up Pippen Hill, Pippen Hill was dirty; there I met a pretty Miss...

Chapter 1

My name is Detective Jackson Jack Horner of the Goose City Police Department. In the ten years I have been with the department I have never started a day like this one.

My Monday morning started with me and my partner Dick Whittington sitting across a naked, fat Henry Emperor, the leading fashion designer in the world. With my detective's salary, I couldn't afford anything designed by the man.

All we know so far is that Henry Emperor paid two men posing as fabric designers two million dollars after they claimed they had developed a technique to weave an ultra-light nearly invisible fabric.

Just a couple more questions then we'll leave you to your business, said my partner of two years, Dick Whittington, who did his best to maintain a straight face.

Dick's an intelligent kid with a bright future as a police detective. He was a stellar two-sport athlete at Grimm High School, excelling in football and baseball. He had every major college in the country looking to sign him. However, Dick decided to join the military where he became a member of Covert Team Omega. Unfortunately, his military career was cut short due to multiple injuries sustained at the Battle of Belleilse. For his actions at Belleilse, he earned a silver cross and a gold star. Like most guys who fought at Belleilse, he refuses to talk about the battle.

Like Dick, I also served in the military but never saw any combat action. All of my action was reserved for tavern fights. After two years of military duty, they hastily discharged me citing I was mentally unfit. Upon returning home, I discovered Goose City had become a cesspool, overrun with drugs, filled with political corruption and the rich fleecing the poor. With the help of my adoptive mother, Anne Mother Hubbard I joined the GC police academy and became a cop. Following in her footsteps, I dedicated myself to clean up the city.

Let's get back to the naked, fat Henry Emperor, who was now pacing in front of us. Dick did his best to keep a straight face. I can assure you he hasn’t seen his dick in years. With his money he probably paid someone to lift his belly so he could take a piss.

Please ask your final questions so I can get back to my business, said Henry Emperor as he stopped pacing.

Do you know if they approached any other designers about this technique? I asked as I watched beads of sweat roll slowly down his C-cup size breast.

I do not know, said Henry Emperor angrily. All I know is if this gets to the media then my image is ruined.

Sensing his anger, Henry Emperor's chamberlain, Lucy Locket finally jumped into the conversation. She had remained silent while Emperor recounted his version of events.

She hid her brown eyes behind dark frame glasses and wore her black hair in a bob. The black and white dress she wore, most likely an Emperor design hugged every curve of her fit body.

Detective Horner, if word of this reaches the media, Mr. Emperor's image will suffer, both socially and financially. It is imperative that these men are apprehended.

We don't do damage control, I said as I looked at Lucy Locket's legs.

I'm not asking you to do damage control. I have people for that. All I need for you to do is your job Detective, said Emperor as he finally sat behind his desk again. Apprehend those charlatans and punish them.

Their punishment is for the court to decide, I said as my gaze went to Lucy Locket’s ample breast.

How right you are detective Horner, Lucy Locket said agreeably Please forgive Mr. Emperor, this affair has left him somewhat stressed. Henry Emperor’s pudgy face tightened.

No need for an apology, I said as my gaze went to her beautiful brown eyes. She still had that heartwarming smile on her beautiful face.

Chief Fitzwarren promised me, he would employ his finest and brightest to apprehend these charlatans, said Emperor glaring at me. Apparently he sent the wrong two boys.

First, he insults us by not wearing clothes then insult our ability to do our job. No one insults my ability to do my job. Getting up, I headed to the door. Stopping, I turned and said, Put some damn clothes on.

Standing and showing himself to me again, Emperor yelled, I will have your badge on my desk tomorrow Detective!

On my way out, I slammed his door as hard as I could. I waited for Dick in the hall.

A few minutes later, Dick and Lucy Locket exited Emperor's office. She was carrying two folders. I apologize, said Lucy Locket. As I stated earlier he is under a lot of stress.

You shouldn't apologize for his stupidity, I said. She offered that heartwarming smile once again.

We can continue the rest of the questioning in my office, said Lucy Locket. We followed her down the hall back to her office where we initially began the questioning before going into Emperor's office.

Before going into Lucy's office, I said, It's all yours Detective Whittington. I want nothing else to do with this case.

Once we entered Lucy's office, Dick began questioning Lucy again. Do you think these men could be working for a competitor who wants to discredit Mr. Emperor?

I can assure you that Mr. Emperor has no competitors, said Lucy Locket as she handed Dick the two folders. Only admirers and followers.

What are these? asked Dick as he opened the top folder.

Everything our internal security compiled about the two suspects, said Lucy.

Once he finished looking through the top folder, Dick said, At least we have photos of the suspects.

Yes, all visitors and employees are issued photo identification, said Lucy.

Dick handed me a folder. I slowly leafed through the pages of information and said, These guys don’t look smart enough to pull anything off and I doubt if they are still in the city.

If I had two million in my pocket, I wouldn’t hang around Goose City, added Dick. If that’s the case then we may not be able to do anything.

What do you mean? asked Lucy.

It means they are most likely out of our jurisdiction, Dick said. If they come back to Goose City, we'll get them. The best we can do is distribute the photos to other law enforcement agencies and ask for help.

I request that no outside agencies be involved, said Lucy Locket. As I also stated earlier, if this gets to the media, Emperor's image will be ruined.

Asking for help from another law enforcement agency is protocol, said Dick. The more agencies we get involved the better are our chances of apprehending the suspects.

Very well, said Lucy. Detective Whittington I would prefer that you pass on any case information directly to me.

Under normal circumstances I wouldn't do it, but you seem trusting enough, Dick said.

Thank you, said Lucy as she handed him her business card.

After leaving Lucy's office, we got onto the elevator and started the long descent from the one-hundred-thirtieth floor. Half way down we get a call. Homicide at the Well.

Looking at Dick, I said, I'll take this one.

Chapter 2

After traveling the winding road uphill to the Well, we finally pulled into the parking lot. The Well, situated in the Gloucester section of Goose City overlooked Mulberry Lake. Once the favorite place of Goose City's socialites, it had become nothing more than a haven for teenagers who skipped school, drug users, and prostitutes. This place should have been demolished years ago, however, the people that controlled Goose City demanded that it remain intact.

Broken glass bottles in the parking lot glittered like diamonds in the morning sun. In the middle of the large parking lot were two GCPD cruisers, a coroner’s wagon, and a forensic truck. The forensic team, dressed in white hazmat suits stood next to their vehicles smoking cigarettes and