Colossal: Issue #1 (Book 1 of The Colossal Series)

By Lennox McCaskill

Meridian isn’t a typical town, and this is no typical murder. When Detective Wreings pulls up to a fiery crime scene, he’s left wondering whether he’s chasing a man or something more. With a thin list of suspects, the detective’s search leads him to the hospital bed of a man with no name who can’t say for certain whether he is or isn’t the killer everyone is looking for. While trying to prove his innocence, he discovers the key to remembering his past puts him in the path of a girl trying desperately to forget hers. Each passing chapter reveals another piece of the puzzle that will change all their lives and the city of Meridian forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lennox McCaskill
• Release date: May 4, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463387153

Lennox McCaskill

I'm an American author and Georgia native with a passion for various forms of storytelling. Growing up, I had a very active imagination that was pretty hard to contain. Whether pretending to be a superhero or an actor, I loved the idea of living in a fantasy world of my own making.But the worlds weren't just for me, I also created a number of characters, some of which made it into my writings as an adult. I'd give them backgrounds, motivations, and even drew out their stories as comics. Flash forward to today, and those stories aren't limited to a strip.My first published work, "Colossal", is a culmination of my interests and inspirations, including my love of TV detectives, science fiction, and of course, super powers. At the same time, the pages of "The Colossal Series" have also housed many of my childhood fears and dreams - some of which have been personified by certain characters.When I'm not writing, I'm busy being a dad to a very smart and imaginative toddler, a husband to a much smarter wife, and an avid sports fan (my favorite teams are Arsenal and Atlanta United).I do love people as much as I love stories so I'd always love to talk and hear from you. Happy reading!

Book preview

Colossal: Issue #1

Fifth Edition

Copyright 2018 Lennox McCaskill

Published by Lennox McCaskill at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Chapter1

Chapter2

Chapter3

Chapter4

Chapter5

Chapter6

Chapter7

Chapter8

Chapter9

Chapter10

Chapter11

Chapter12

Chapter13

Chapter14

Chapter15

Chapter16

Chapter17

Chapter18

Chapter19

Chapter20

Chapter21

Chapter22

Chapter23

Chapter24

Chapter25

Chapter26

Afterward

AboutAuthor

OtherBooks

Connect

Acknowledgements

This book is dedicated to Sandra, Mark, Samantha, Amanda and everyone who ever encouraged me to keep chasing my dreams.

Chapter 1 – Burning Questions

…The temperatures may be dropping, but things are certainly heating up at the polls as Election Day draws near. The question on every citizen’s mind right now? Who is going to lead us out of these troubling times?

…with news today that Denard Kline, one half of the controlling body of technological giant Klymacks, will be in attendance during next week’s demonstration. Kline has shied away from the public eye since his father’s death in 1996, leaving most of the public appearances in the hands of the other half of the embattled company, Kathleen Lymacks. While some are speculating that this is simply a PR move in the wake of the allegations of…

…are baffled by the sudden surge of missing person reports amongst the homeless population of Meridian. This week, a number of humanitarian groups issued complaints that the MPD aren’t taking the matter seriously. However, the mayor has finally stepped in to assure…

…this morning as police and emergency crews have started investigating a fire that took place overnight just north of the perimeter…

~

The hours before dawn were always rhythmic on a Friday morning in Meridian. A small parade of cars traveled on either side of the divided interstate. There were the commuters heading south from the suburbs, leaving their homes earlier to beat the morning traffic. The night owls and construction workers were traveling north after both had spent the night doing their respective versions of hitting the streets.

The only speed on the highway was fast; about fifteen miles on the plus side of the speed limit. Badges rarely pulled anyone over for less and this morning appeared to be no different as there weren’t any flashing lights on the shoulders. Friday was the one day that everyone just seemed to get it. It was the end of the work week and most people seemed to want the day to go by as fast as possible so they could get into the weekend.

But that wasn’t how things worked for Detective Tobias Wreings, not lately anyway. He felt like he hadn’t clocked out since last week, not since he realized that there wouldn’t be anyone waiting for him at home. This Friday was simply day seven without sleep to him and it showed on his face as he glanced into the rearview mirror.

The speedometer fluctuated up and down nervously much like his eyelids. The radio had gone out a few months back but the hum of the engine had been steadily lulling him to sleep. Luckily a few nudging horns from the cars around Wreings kept him from fully drifting off.

DING! DING! DING!

The GPS that had remembered to nag him, refocused his mind. The Detective shook himself the rest of the way awake and peeked at the screen on his dash.

Finally, he said, pulling onto an access road. Wreings reached for the napkin on the empty seat next to him, shifting his eyes between it and the road.

Exit 32 Access Rd – Down Halfway/Red bush - Turn at dirt road

His own sloppy handwriting was less confusing than the instructions, but his partner insisted that the place was in a black hole of the city - whatever that meant. The detective was sure the GPS could find it, but he’d kept the note just in case.

DING! DING! DING!

Detective Wreings yawned and rubbed his eyes as he turned back to the screen.

Make a U-turn? He glanced up at the road. It was poorly lit and he couldn’t see anywhere to make a turn. There wasn’t much in his rearview except for a set of distant headlights. He saw a glimpse of something bright red coming up on his right and quickly spun his wheel to slide onto an unpaved road.

DING! DING! DING!

Piece of shit, he said, switching off the GPS.

The uncharted path had even less visibility than the access road. He drove slowly with his high-beams on for about half-a-mile until he spotted the blue and red lights ahead of him. Wreings eased on the brakes but an officer waved for him to keep driving. He pulled past an ambulance and fire truck and parked behind his partner’s black coupe.

He sighed heavily and reached for the brown coat that he had attempted to fold on the back seat. As he glanced out the window he started to feel his second wind coming on. A new case always had a weird way of rejuvenating him.

The smell of burnt forest wafted into his nostrils as soon as he opened the door and he almost slipped on the wet gravel as he stepped out. He needed coffee.

Wreings threw on his coat and began walking toward the crime scene, greeting everyone politely that he passed. He looked for his partner Detective Donnelly under the bright flood lights.

Did you find it okay, V? Donnelly yelled. Wreings stepped out of the line of the light to see his suited partner leaning against the front of the CSI van, a covered cup in his hand.

V was what Mick Donnelly called Wreings these days. It had taken him well into the first month of their partnership to remember the proper pronunciation of the w in his German last name. But after much frustration - and swearing - his partner just decided to call him V.

Wreings waited until he was a little closer before responding, Yeah, GPS found it no problem.

Donnelly smirked and handed Wreings the cup of coffee. Right. Here take this. You sleep any last night?

Who needs sleep? replied Wreings, taking a swig from the cup before promptly spitting it back out. That’s coffee?

I couldn’t remember how you took yours, Donnelly laughed. So I just gave it to you straight.

No one takes it straight, Don, Wreings replied.

His partner shrugged his shoulders and began walking toward the scene. I figured you’d just be happy to have some. You’ve been like an addict lately.

Wreings couldn’t argue with that. He winced after the next sip and followed under the caution tape.

Soon the men were a few steps away from the sunken rubble. What was left of the grass that surrounded the area was scorched along with the bark of the neighboring trees. The last bit of smoke could be seen rising in front of the portable lights.

So what happened? Wreings asked.

Donnelly straightened out a crumpled piece of paper and quickly looked it over. Calls came in this morning with reports there was smoke coming from over the trees. The fire department came out and found this. The rain overnight probably killed most of it.

Looks like there was a hell of a fire alright, Wreings replied. I didn’t know there were houses back here.

House. This was it. There’s an apartment complex a mile south, What’s-Her-Face is up there right now. There’s some amphitheater farther down that way, but you can only get to all of that from the exit. So whoever lived here wasn’t a very social guy. Donnelly tossed the paper to Wreings. Here, her handwriting is as bad as yours.

Detective Wreings shook his head but obliged him to satisfy his need for more details. He placed the cup of coffee down and looked over the note.

Apparently all this land is owned by one guy, a Theodore James Bishop. He kept reading the note while scratching his forehead with the thumb of his unoccupied hand. I can’t think of where, but I know I’ve seen that name before.

When he glanced up, he could see that Donnelly was thoroughly amused. It only took a minute for Wreings to realize what his partner was laughing at.

Wreings shook his head. Dammit, Don! Grow up.

Me? Donnelly said playfully. He lowered his voice and added a bit of gruff to sound more like the old TV detective. I’m sorry it’s just hard to keep a straight face when you do that Columbo bit. I mean you even brought the coat out today. Have you been living out of your car or something?

Wreings slid the note into his pocket, picked up his coffee and walked past his partner. I like this coat, he mumbled to himself before taking another sip.

He was much taller than Peter Falk, with shortly-trimmed brown hair. His build was also more athletic, or so Wreings thought. Still, it didn’t really bother him that he reminded his partner of the TV detective, though it was Donnelly who could do a spot on impression. Either way, Wreings had always liked the idea of intuition being the key component to detective work.

But his thoughts soon swayed back to the seared mess before him. The signs of a house fire were certainly there. The way the blackened remnants were scattered made it look as though the house hadn’t simply burnt to the ground. They were spread out making a circular border that sat higher than the center. As Wreings looked closer he noticed that the middle appeared to be where the house had sunken into the ground the deepest but maybe not by more than two or three feet.

Where’s the body? Wreings asked as he looked around at the numbered cards the forensic team had placed around the scene.

You mean what’s left of it, Donnelly said. It looks like our order was a little overcooked this time, V.

He led Wreings toward the back of the wreckage and pointed to the grey-haired forensic technician that was positioned near a charred mass. It was partially underneath what could have been a fallen wall.

The figure was gruesome. It took Detective Wreings a few seconds to adjust his stomach to the sight, but much like he always did, the detective bent down and looked at the area he believed to be the face. There were three spots that he assumed to be the eyes and mouth, though he could hardly be sure because of the damage done to the head. The odor of the burnt flesh was thick and it mixed with that of the coffee with sickening effect.

How you doing, Wallace? Detective Wreings said to the technician without taking his eyes off the body. That Bishop?

Maybe, could be anyone, Wallace replied, shaking his head. He began pointing to different parts of the body. It’s hard to tell if this even is a ‘he’. The body could have easily been distorted when the house coll…

They don’t know yet, Donnelly cut in to abbreviate the point.

Wreings nodded. Let’s see if our homeowner had a wife or kids. That’ll help narrow it down.

Donnelly looked to be in agreement. The detective then returned to addressing the technician.

So the collapse may have killed whoever this is? Or did they burn to death first?

Won’t know that until we get it back to the lab for LJ to look at, he replied.

I appreciate it, Wallace, Wreings said.

So what do you think? Donnelly asked.

You think something could have fallen on the house? Wreings asked.

What?

The center is caved in… Wreings began. Hey, did anything fly over here last night?

Donnelly shrugged.

Detective Wreings pointed at the brightening sky. What if a small plane had an engine that blew out? It could be buried under the rubble, Wreings said. That could explain why everything in the middle looks sunk in.

Like Donnie Darko? Nah, we would have probably heard of a plane crash by now, Donnelly said. Besides, they found some kind of tracks and what not. It looks like there was a group hanging around by the road.

Anyone see any vehicles?

I doubt it, Donnelly replied. This place isn’t even on a map. You’d have to have a satellite or something to know it was here.

I guess we’ll see when… Wreings paused for a few seconds, looking troubled over something. Now I can’t think of her name, he said.

Hey, Wally, what’s the brunette’s name who I was talking to earlier? his partner hollered. You know, the one with the… Donnelly positioned both hands underneath his chest and bounced them up and down.

The straight-faced technician only glanced up for a moment before returning back to the ground with his flashlight. Hopkins, I think, he replied.

That’s it! Hopkins, Donnelly repeated excitedly. She went up to the complex about half an hour ago. Who knows, maybe we get a creep who doesn’t like to sleep and he saw something.

Wreings took the final sip of his coffee; shaking it just to be sure that he had consumed it all. The cup had warmed his hands but the taste and kick just didn’t cut it.

We’ll see. Wreings searched for a place to toss his cup but crime scenes were always inconvenient in that sense. There never was a place to dump trash unless you wanted it to wind up in evidence. So he simply carried the cup with him as he followed Donnelly back to the road where another technician was waiting for them.

Like Wallace, this one wore the standard dark blue jumpsuit that CSI wore in the field. His eyes looked very aware for this early in the morning.

Are you the detectives? His voice was jittery, though it wasn’t obvious whether it was because he was excited or new. The detective had only seen him once before around the lab, this was the first time Wallace had brought him to one of their scenes. He was young, though his thick beard gave his face a more seasoned look. Wreings figured that might have been what he was going for.

We sure as hell ain’t forensics, Donnelly quickly replied. He always loved messing around with the lab techs as they never seemed to understand his lowbrow humor. What do you want kid?

The bubbly tech initially seemed shocked by Donnelly’s greeting, but handled it well enough to continue his business. Right…well, I just wanted to go over some of the team’s findings. We found a set of tire tracks and possibly two sets of footprints over there on the road. The rain made it hard to tell exactly what was what. The tire tracks in the gravel are also pretty useless as there is way too much deterioration to accurately identify the type of vehicle. But…

He motioned for both detectives to follow him to another taped off area near the edge of the forest line and pointed into the trees.

Do you see it? the tech asked.

Wreings stood with Donnelly, unsure of what he was supposed to be looking at. The young tech must have realized this as he walked behind and awkwardly positioned them a few inches to the left before pointing again.

See it now? he asked.

It was definitely clear now. A hole around the size of a bowling ball looked to have been carved out of a large tree in the front. But as the tech shined his flashlight Wreings could see that everything level with the hole was also missing. It was as if something had shot straight through the forest.

What the hell is that? Donnelly asked.

Does that run all the way through? Wreings asked.

The brown-haired technician shrugged, No idea yet. But it appears to be of a perfectly straight trajectory. One of the officers is checking the distance right now.

Looks like a damn cannon shot through here, Donnelly said.

Well, cannon fire would have more or less torn down everything in its path. The sheer mass of… The eagerly grinning tech seemed to notice the look Donnelly was giving him. He ended his explanation. Sorry.

A cannon, Don? Wreings mocked his partner. Really?

Whatever, V. I know what the kid is saying. But it looks like a Goddamn canon ball came through here, Donnelly returned.

Jess, the boy interjected. But anyway, the interesting thing here is that whatever caused this thoroughfare actually originated on this side of clearing. More specifically, Jess turned and angled his hands so they were directly in line with the house. From the direct center of the collapse!

Bullshit, Donnelly chimed in.

No sir, the entry grooves on the standing trees show that something traveled out in the opposite direction, replied the lanky tech. But that isn’t even the weirdest thing.

What? Detective Wreings was now skeptical as well. Jess led them around to the other side of the clearing. He pointed out the numbered slides that had been placed beside several singed spots in the ground.

Check these out, he said.

What’s weird about them? Donnelly asked. They belong to Bigfoot or something?

Oh, of course not, Jess replied. But do you see how the grass is completely burnt where the steps are? This person may have been on fire or something.

What? Wreings said.

Weird, right? Jess continued. Anyway, they start at the house and whoever made them looks to have actually crawled out of the wreckage first, before somehow making it to their feet around here. He flashed the light at the ground in front of where they were standing. There was one long burnt spot that eventually separated into two distinct feet. Now, the steps are pretty normal up until this point. They are a little gimpy at first glance, but my best guess is that the person involved was probably severely injured in the collapse…

Jess then moved quickly toward the edge of the clearing while both detectives tried to keep up. But Wreings stopped short at the stunning sight now before him. The footprints ran out just a few inches before a large opening in the forest and the surrounding trees looked to have been either torched or knocked aside, almost creating a human-sized pathway that looked to extend deep into the brush. The detective could see a number of flashlights moving along the ground inside the path before a pair of them pointed upwards toward the approaching dawn.

We got another hole here! one of the officers yelled.

Whoa, Donnelly said as he looked to Wreings.

The detective couldn’t think of anything to say except for the question that they all had to be thinking.

What the hell could have done that?

~

What do you mean you don’t know, Dr. Cattrell? questioned Dr. Veronica Lutz.

Her gaze narrowed through her glasses. It was hard to tell if the cheeks of her cocoa skin were flushed but Dr. Reagan Cattrell imagined that her supervisor had to be very frustrated.

Please tell me that you properly diagnosed the patient’s injuries when he was brought in, Dr. Lutz continued. This hospital cannot afford any more lapses.

Reagan clasped both hands around the back of her neck and let out a sigh of exasperation. She then furiously shook her head. We did, but…

But what? Lutz cut in tiredly.

Many of the injuries have healed on their own, Reagan replied firmly, trying to assert the confidence she was so used to exuding around the hospital.

Dr. Lutz folded her arms across her chest and turned toward the operating room. The salt and pepper strands of her braids swayed evenly as she moved. What do you mean, they’ve healed? The types of injuries that he sustained don’t just heal on their own, and certainly not within a few hours. Are you absolutely certain he was diagnosed correctly?

Absolutely, Reagan said adamantly. The surgeons, the EMTs, we all knew exactly what we were looking at. She took a second to adjust the band holding up her auburn hair. But I just can’t tell you what’s happening to him now.

Dr. Lutz moved past Reagan toward the window. Through the tiny slit in the blinds she could see the body lying on the table. A soaked, powder blue sheet was pulled up to his torso, and everything above it looked particularly bloody.

His body still appears to be damaged from the burns, she said, sounding much calmer this time.

But the severity has been downgraded since he was admitted, Reagan replied. And the burns have almost completely disappeared from some areas of his body. I brought Dr. Sava over to have a look and we agree that his skin is actually showing signs of repair.

You’re kidding? Dr. Lutz inched closer to the glass. What in the world…

Reagan watched as the doctor brought a fist to her chest as if she were clenching the charm of a necklace. She thought it was strange that someone as brilliant and accomplished as Dr. Lutz had such a peculiar nervous habit. To her it seemed like the sort of thing a weak-minded person would do.

And the fractures in his hip, fingers, skull, ribcage - you name it, it’s as if they never happened, the young doctor added. If I hadn’t seen him for myself when he was brought in, I’d be thinking that I was looking at someone with just severe burns

Dr. Lutz was silent, seemingly trying to understand everything Reagan had just told her. But everything else looks normal?

Reagan nodded. Her eyes were still locked on the man under the sheet. She watched carefully as his chest slowly moved up and down. Yes, even his breathing is fine now too.

Really? Even with the damage to his lungs? Dr. Lutz asked.

Yes ma’am, Reagan replied. Should we call Dr. Schroeder? He still wants to know if anything…

No, her question drew a firm response from Dr. Lutz. Schroeder’s got enough on his plate trying to ‘fix’ MMC’s image, she replied. The older Lutz removed her thin-rimmed glasses and pulled out a small wipe from the pocket of her white coat. Besides, it’s not even eight o’clock yet, no sense in getting him involved so early in the day.

Reagan understood that. She had only dealt with Dr. Schroeder on a couple of occasions, none of which had been pleasant.

Let’s keep monitoring his…well, I guess we’ll call it progress, at least until the afternoon, Dr. Lutz added.

Right, Reagan nodded, rubbing her freckled cheeks. I’ve never seen anything like this before, have you?

Dr. Lutz pulled the chart off the door and flipped through a few pages. I’ve seen my share of miracles, Dr. Cattrell. But I’ve never seen anyone survive injuries as severe as these. Do we have a name or at least who brought him in?

Reagan shook her head. The EMTs found him unconscious behind the loading dock around four o’clock this morning. They said he just showed up out of nowhere.

Well he sure didn’t walk here, not with the injuries he’s sustained, said Dr. Lutz. But I also find it hard to believe that this man just fell out of the sky.

Chapter 2 - Awakening

The numbness lifted as her skin began to soak up the sensations around her. Familiar fibers pressed against the right side of her face and she drifted back into consciousness. It was taking a great deal of effort to open her eyes, with each attempt consuming all of her concentration. When she finally managed to open them fully everything was blurry. After a few seconds the distorted shapes turned into her bed, desk, a few piles of clothes, and a dresser. It was her bedroom.

Katie immediately sighed in relief, though she couldn’t remember if it had been necessary.

There was a sharp pain in her chest like someone was squeezing her lungs. She coughed fiercely until the sensation subsided. As she breathed, it seemed to spur the rest of her senses on. The feeling in her extremities began to return and soon Katie felt the cold floor under her naked body.

What happened to my clothes?

The answer proved elusive as did any memory of the past few hours. Or had it been days? The curly-haired blonde was strangely unsure of how much time had slipped by.

I couldn’t have done it again, could I? It’s been six months!

Katie’s mind dipped into a well of possible disappointment and the thought of blacking out again raised the hairs on the back of her neck. She began to shiver but oddly her skin felt as though it were warming up.

Slow it down Katie, don’t panic! Count and breathe…

The blonde caught herself before the episode progressed. She closed her eyes and breathed in and out slowly, adding numbers in her head as Dr. Mack had often instructed her. After a few long breaths, Katie rubbed her palms on the carpet, gripping and releasing the fibers rhythmically.

Okay, we’re good…

Once she knew that she had calmed down, Katie realized just how uncomfortable the carpet and cold air were against her bare skin. She tried to move her arms and legs but a sudden ache laid siege to her side.

God! Why does that hurt so much?

With a grimace she managed to push herself onto all-fours. After a few moments more, the pain eased to a slight tickle in her muscles. Katie crawled to the side of her bed and rotated to rest her back against its base. The breeze was still coming in from the crack in the window above the bed and though Katie had warmed a little, she searched the floor for something to put on.

Those shorts are here somewhere…Got it!

Her arms and legs loosened up once she slid on the shorts and she grabbed the bra and blue tee shirt that were at the head of the bed. Once fully clothed, she used the bed as a prop to maneuver to her feet. The frame wobbled as she braced. She thought she remembered it being sturdier. But then again, everything she had experienced so far had been strange, or at the very least, different. Though she couldn’t pick out specifics, there was something about her body that just didn’t feel the same.

Weird, why is this shirt so tight? Where’s my phone?

She glanced at the windowsill and then over to her desk. There were two books in the back right corner and her partially-closed laptop was in its