Them's The Breaks

By Derek Paterson

A detective in a future high-tech society must solve an unusual murder whose trail leads to unexpected places. Sci-Fi short story, 11,000 words.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Derek Paterson
• Release date: Jul 24, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465754288

Derek Paterson

Derek Paterson has a background in journalism and publishing. He has worked on newspapers, radio and television. He has founded his own magazine, published and edited several books, freelanced internationally as a writer and photographer, taught English as a second language and was part of the film crew that shot the world’s first open sea, underwater footage of Orca (Killer Whales).He has travelled widely and lived in North and South America, Europe and Asia and, of course, Australia and New Zealand.Fine art photography, principally panoramic landscapes, is another passion and his works are hanging in homes and collections in Europe, North and South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. His photographs have also been bought by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for hanging in missions around the world.

Book preview

THEM’S THE BREAKS

by Derek Paterson

© 2011 by Derek Paterson

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The view of Great London at night from the cockpit of the Police patrol car was both startling and beautiful. It was almost enough to make North forget his fear of flying. Almost. The pilot effortlessly guided his machine between the towering obsidian blocks, each course correction flipping North’s stomach over. Then they were suddenly hovering above a triangular patch of blackness amid the sea of artificial light. The patrol car dropped like a stone while North held on for dear life. If the pilot noticed his passenger’s terror, he gave no sign.

Macauley of all people was waiting for him, a cup of tea in one hand and a sandwich in the other. Heaven forbid that Macauley should be denied his midnight snack—he’d fade away to a shadow. North climbed shakily out of the cockpit and lurched toward him, relieved to be on solid ground again.

Good of you to drop in, Laddie, Macauley shouted above the rising din of the patrol car’s thrusters. The rest of us can go home now that you’re here.

North didn’t smile. He didn’t like Macauley or the way the man worked. Macauley was a dinosaur who still thought detective work should rely upon gut instinct instead of systematic and exhaustive microanalysis of data gathered at the crime scene. In North’s opinion, Superintendent Morgan should have bounced him off the team long ago. They watched in silence as the patrol car lifted off and swung back to retrace its path, its navigation lights flashing like miniature explosions.

What’s this all about? North asked wearily once the noise of the thrusters had faded. When Morgan had called to tell him the patrol car was on its way to pick him up, he’d neglected to provide any details, or warn North that Macauley was already at the scene. Deliberately? North couldn’t help but think so.

Macauley nodded toward a mock wrought iron bridge that crossed a narrow river with shallow banks. Through the trees on the other side, North could see the forensics team moving about, dressed like spacemen. Harsh floodlighting cast elongated shadows as the team checked out the area. The place was called Vader Park, named after some obscure VR actor whose face eluded North.

Male, aged forty, Macauley said. Name’s Jessica-Ann Smythe. Apparently he was cruising the park looking for company. A Police patrol saw him two hours ago. He tried to tempt both constables into the bushes but they turned him down. According to them Smythe had already had three liaisons with passers-by. He must have been saving it up for tonight, hmm?

North nodded, accepting it all without comment. It