The South Side Criminals: Project Nartana Case Set 2

By Kimberly Vogel

Every villain has a reason for why they do wrong. The Nartana brothers are on the right side of the law. Charged with bringing in seven criminals, the brothers journey into the desert of South Side. Some are easily found, others not so much. Either way, the Nartana brothers are relentless in their hunt. The criminals will be caught and returned to prison. Hopefully they won’t make too much of a mess of South Side before then.
(This Collection includes: Feet to the Fire, To Kill More Flies, My Two Cents, A Bird In the Hand, The Camel’s Back, Where There’s a Will, & Hair of the Dog along with bonus storyline and illustrations)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 26, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329050174

Book preview

The South Side Criminals: Project Nartana Case Set 2

The South Side Criminals: Project Nartana Case Set 2

Copyright

Copyright © 2015 by Kimberly Vogel.

ISBN eBook 978-1-329-05017-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

For additional copies refer to:

http://www.lulu.com/shakkathi

Acknowledgements

I want to thank my family and friends for supporting me.

Without you, I don’t know where I would be.

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Intro

Seated at his desk, President Jeremiah Kroz watched the news reports roll across the television screen. Scowling deeply, the silver-haired man leaned forwards. Pressing a button on the edge, he said, Nellie, I need you here.

Within the room a floor below, the command echoed above the doctor’s head. Looking up, the black-haired woman replied, I’m coming. Standing quickly from her desk, Nellie made her way out of her office to the elevator.

Jeremiah dropped his chin into his hand. His silver eyes watched the continual news coverage. One of his worst fears was coming true right before his eyes.

Here in South Side it is confirmed that seven prisoners have escaped. The eighth, a man named Milton, died before he could escape the compound. It is encouraged that the inhabitants of Central City located near the prison grounds stay inside their homes and offices. Do not open your windows or doors until the convicts are recaptured. The police request that any sightings be reported to them. Stay tuned for updates.

The pale man dropped his hand to his desktop. Before now no one had escaped from the prison. He would have to find new ways to keep criminals from mingling with the populace. Before that they had to be returned to prison. Pressing another button, he said, Trevet I know that you are busy but I need you to join us as well.

Yes, President Kroz, replied his assistant. The red-headed man left the next-door office.

Releasing the button, Jeremiah reclined in his chair. With his eyes on the television screen, he waited for the two he summoned to appear. Both of them were shorter than his six foot height. The twenty-one-year-old man was so only by two inches while the thirty-year-old woman was so by a full half foot. Unlike the two men, the woman had tan skin.

As Trevet entered the hallway, he saw Nellie exit the elevator. Nodding to her, he said, Hello Nellie.

Good afternoon Trevet. Do you know what this is about?

No, do you?

No.

I see, Trevet murmured. Turning his purple eyes to the president’s door, the taller man opened it first.

As they entered, Jeremiah lifted his hand to the television. Have you seen the news?

No, Nellie replied, turning her silver eyes to the screen.

Trevet shook his head. I haven’t seen this story. What’s going on?

It’s a prison break, Jeremiah replied. Standing from his chair, he walked around his desk. The man you put away for threatening me facilitated the escape of seven others in the South Side prison.

Oh no, Nellie said with eyes widening. When did this happen?

Let me check. Lifting his data device, Trevet quickly brought the story up on its screen. Then he patched into the police database for more information. It’s sad that the news people found out about it before we did. It was only discovered by the guards about five minutes ago, though. What do you want to do, President Kroz?

This is something that will take more than mere force, Jeremiah replied. Trevet I want you to take your brothers down to South Side. With all seven of you hunting the criminals they can be recaptured quickly. Nellie I want you on alert for any medical situation that might come up.

Nodding faintly, Nellie said, I will prepare my supplies.

And I’ll collect my brothers, Trevet said. Is there anything else that we can do for you?

No, though I do make one request, Jeremiah replied. For your safety I want you to wear your special agent uniforms.

Of course, we don’t want to be mistaken for ordinary civilians, Trevet said.

Yes, now go, Jeremiah said. Clasping his hands behind his back, he watched the news coverage continue on the television screen.

As we continue to bring coverage of the prison escapees, thank you for picking channel two as your prime news source. So far there have been no reports of attacks by the criminals. All private traffic has been rerouted away from the danger zone. We want to reiterate the importance of staying safe inside your homes and businesses. Stay tuned for more updates.

As the assistant and doctor walked out of the president’s office, Trevet glanced at Nellie. I hope we don’t need you, he said.

I hope so too, Nellie replied. She placed her hand on his shoulder. But if you do, please call me.

We will, Trevet said.

Good, she said, dropping her hand.

Trevet pressed the button for the elevator. When it came he rode down with Nellie to the doctor’s floor. Once she was out of the elevator, Trevet lifted his data pad. He patched into his brothers’ cell phones for a conference call. Once he had all of them online, he said, We have a mission.

Speaking first, Nartana said, It’s funny that you’re giving orders now.

Kirabo chuckled at the eldest brother’s statement. He is closer to power now than you are.

But enough of that, Canto said. I have to get back to my work. What do you need?

As do I, Dusan said.

Right, what is the job that we have to do? Dante asked.

Does it have something to do with the recent news? Mikasi asked.

Yes, Trevet replied. I’ll send all of the files to you. If the escaped prisoners move quickly then by nightfall they could be as far north as the President’s tower. We have to return them to the prison as soon as possible. As always Nellie is on call. Be careful, though, she is only one person after all.

Alright, everyone have safe hunting, Nartana said.

Talk to you all later, Trevet said. Taking himself off of the call, he turned back to the previous task. Bringing up the police records, he quickly reviewed the files. Marking one file for each of his brothers, Trevet sent the whole packet to them. As the elevator doors opened, he lowered his data pad. Walking out of the elevator, he headed out of the building to the circular street that separated the innermost part of Central City from the outer quadrants. Standing at the corner, he coordinated with the police officers to have one undercover car pick up each of the seven brothers. With their help each escaped prisoner would be caught and the city would be at peace once again. Or so they all hoped.

Case 8 – Feet to the Fire

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Stop!

Glancing over his shoulder, the auburn haired man spared a moment to look at his pursuer. I won’t! With the defiant cry, he broke into a flat-out run. His brown eyes searched for a new path to take.

The section of South Side he entered wasn’t one familiar to him. In the compound of Central City, the land was broken up into four major parts. At the dead center of it all types of people mingled together under the eye of their president. Each of the quadrants was named after their cardinal direction. If one was to look at a map, the land not leveled out flat by buildings was always to the right as the map was turned to the left. South Side’s claim to fame was a deep desert. It was from there that he had escaped from the underground prison facility.

With the map in his mind’s eye, the running man pressed westward away from the sand clogged ground. Although he found the paved streets, the grit from the desert blew underfoot with each puff of wind. Hiding his face, the man searched for a place to shelter in before the sand filled every one of his pores.

Stop right there criminal!

Ignoring the shouts, the man darted down a nearby alleyway. Right now he had to find somewhere to take shelter. There were plenty of places to hide in, but not many to make into a permanent hiding place. The panic created by their escape provided easy pickings for other things. Sliding into a marketplace, he snatched up a few nondescript pieces of clothing from in front of a store. Those he held as he continued to run.

Running to a trash collection site, the man stepped behind a dumpster. He threw his prison clothes in with the other refuse. From a plastic bag he removed a worn pair of black shoes. He pulled on the tailored white shirt and tight black pants he took from the store. Once he was fully clothed, he sprinted across the way to another set of buildings.

At a warehouse the man hurried through the halls. Without the prison clothes it was easier for him to blend in with the rest of the populace. Not many people were around now due to the martial law placed across South Side in response to his escape. The man wanted to get out of sight as quickly as possible.

His family had a unit in that warehouse. It was the best place to collect supplies from. At the door of the unit, he unlocked the spiral lock then opened it. Slipping inside, he closed the door behind himself. Inside there he turned on a camping light. Moving to one trunk, he opened it then searched around inside. He took out a pouch then wrapped it around his waist. Searching through the rest of the trunk he picked up energy bars then ate them. In the safety of the warehouse he took a quick nap.

As soon as he was up again, the man listened to the sounds outside. Although the city was still on lockdown, he couldn’t wait for it to lift. A lot of people felt the same way. Smirking faintly, the man turned off the light. Sneaking out of the unit, he made his way through the warehouse out onto the street.

Across the city in his home Nartana looked at the man’s police record. So he calls himself Torch...apt since he’s a firebug. Five years ago a fire his crew set burnt down a grocery store. It was only a diversion for robbing the clothing store nearby. That is brazen. Shaking his head, the eldest of the seven brothers walked through the penthouse suite. As he faced the elevator his room was in the right-hand corner. Entering it, the tall man swapped his casual clothes out for his work uniform.

Different from the police uniform, the special agent uniform was made up of varying shades of gray accented by red. Nartana pulled dark gray gloves up his arms. The pale gray cuff rested on his bicep. That cuff could attach to the silver cuff on the tunic that he pulled on. It was a patchwork design with a light gray piece that went down to a point at his navel. That piece attached to his light gray belt. Underneath it the medium gray piece of the tunic covered his backside. A silver collar stood up stiffly to cover his neck. Nartana slid into black pants and pulled on black boots to finish it off. On his gloves a red patch was on the back of his hands. It faced the opposite direction to the patches on his upper arm. Those red patches had a silver cross on them which was the Kroz Enterprises logo.

Once Nartana was dressed, he pulled out his weapons cache from underneath his bed. Grabbing a few pieces, he stuffed them into his bag. Then he slid it over his shoulder and picked up the file. Walking out of his room, he entered the elevator. When the light was perfect it let the other people see inside of the box. He brushed his light brown hair away from his cheek. The strands stopped at his collar. His bangs were colored the same purple as his eyes. Staring at the file, he continued to read it on the way down to the main floor.

Sir, I’m here for you. My name is Officer Leontyne, a woman said as the door opened. The tan skinned blonde was dressed in the purple police uniform.

Glancing up at her, Nartana replied, Good. I’m Agent Nartana. We have to hurry.

Follow me, Leontyne said. Walking quickly to a waiting car, she took her place behind the wheel.

Climbing into the passenger side, Nartana said, You have to take whatever shortcuts are available.

Yes Agent Nartana, Leontyne replied. Revving the engine, she drove them to the first access point that she found.

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The compound called Central City was above ground, but all of the maintenance tunnels were below ground. It was the fastest way to travel, even though it wasn’t the easiest. The tunnels ran without stopping in a similar grid pattern to above ground. It didn’t have the same triple circle of roads around the very innermost part of Central City. That blockade helped separate one quadrant from another and the heart of the city from them.

Where in South Side are we going? Leontyne asked. She drove the car down into the underground pathways. 

Has there been any news about the location of the seven escaped prisoners? Nartana asked as he tucked the file into the bag between his legs.

No.

Then we’re going to the prison first. This file is fine, but I need to know more.

What do you mean?

The best way to track him is to find out where he’s going. I’ll start out with where he came from. It should get me into his mind.

Oh, Leontyne murmured. 

Yes, once I get that I can find him quickly. Nartana looked up at the passing archways. At least I hope so.

While they talked, Torch made his way across South Side. He had to walk to his new destination. It took longer than he expected, but it was the easiest way to hide from prying eyes. He had one goal. After that nothing else mattered.

Agent, we’re here, Leontyne said as she drove to the edge of the underground prison complex. Setting the gear into park, her blue eyes darted over her shoulder. Do you want me to come with you?

No, I’ll take it from here. Nartana collected his file. I won’t be long. Then we’ll go to the staging place for Sergeant Nicholsen’s crew. The criminal Torch won’t be causing trouble for long.

Alright, Leontyne said. Flashing her badge at the front gate, she waited for the gate to open. Then she could drive into the prison’s parking lot.

Without waiting for the prison’s liaison, Nartana stepped out of the car. Walking to the second gate, he held up his credentials. As the gate opened, he walked through it to the doors of an elevator.

Beyond it the doors of an elevator opened. The prison was built downwards so the prisoners were essentially locked away without the ability to ever see the sun again. A female officer stepped out of the elevator. Agent Nartana, she said, I’m glad to see that you arrived so quickly.

Yes, but I wish that it wasn’t under these circumstances. There will be seven agents coming to assess the situation. My target is Prisoner Torch. Nartana nodded at her. I’d like to see where he was housed.

Of course, the woman said. She waited for him to swipe his ID at the gate between them. When it opened she stepped back into the elevator.

Nartana followed her. As the doors closed, he asked, Do you know how he escaped?

We’re still looking into it, but it appears that he was broken out.

How?

Someone changed his status. Usually they only have an hour of exercise in a simulated outside environment. That command for contained exercise was changed to exercise on the surface. That exercise time was when he escaped.

I see. Nartana frowned. Do you know who changed it?

Shaking her head, the officer replied, We’re looking into it. So far we haven’t been able to determine whether it came from inside or outside of the prison.

We will need to know. President Kroz wants to know how this could happen. We must prevent any sort of escape from here.

Of course, the officer replied. She led the way out of the elevator once it reached the bottom of the shaft. The corridor turned in a wide circle so the space seemed larger than it actually was. At the escaped prisoner’s cell door she stopped and opened it. This is Prisoner Torch’s room.

What have you done in terms of searching their rooms?

We did a preliminary search, but it didn’t turn anything up in terms of the escape. They’re only allowed to keep the bare necessities. We kept everything as it was.

I see, Nartana murmured. I’ll take a deeper look.

I’ll wait outside.

Walking into the room, Nartana glanced around. Two beams of light shone along the corner of each wall from the door to the back. A single platform doubling as both bed and desk ran along one wall. The toilet and sink were in the other corner. It was a meager existence. Even so, even the smallest nook or cranny couldn’t be discounted as a hiding place. Before he stepped in further, Nartana focused his attention from the structure to any personal effects. The prisoners weren’t allowed much, so it should be easy to go through the small piles. Where is his mail? Nartana asked as he stared at the desk.

We didn’t find any.

That’s odd.

Stepping from the hall into the doorway, the officer frowned. What do you mean?

From his file Prisoner Torch seemed to be a family man, despite his run-ins with the law.

It doesn’t seem that odd. We find that many prisoners lose all contact with their families after they are incarcerated.

If they didn’t contact him, he might be going to find them. Nartana picked up a single piece of paper. Underneath it was a dictionary stamped as belonging to the prison library. Who delivers these?

The staff mainly.

Nartana picked up the book. Glancing inside, he flipped through the pages. I think that avenue should be checked as well. Even though we depend on electronics many people still use pen and paper to send messages as well. Prisoner Milton was old school too.

I’ll do that, the officer said. Bringing up her data device, she sent messages to her research team.

Nartana stopped his search. Narrowing his eyes, he lifted the dictionary closer to his face. Why is this part marked with soot?

There shouldn’t be anything like that here.

Well, he is a firebug. Nartana glanced at the lights. I bet it wouldn’t take much from them to set the paper on fire. He returned his gaze to the dictionary. Nursery rhymes are an odd thing to focus on.

I wonder... The woman tapped her data pad. You said that he’s a family man?

Yes.

Prisoner Torch has only been in prison for six months. We try to make sure that all messages come through official channels, but if something was smuggled in it might have caused his escape. He has a girlfriend.

Ah, Nartana murmured. That is definitely something to investigate.

The officer glanced at her data pad. Ah, I see that another agent has arrived. I’m sorry, but I have to go meet him.

That’s fine. Nartana waved his hand. Don’t worry about me. I’ll leave when I’m done here.

Okay, goodbye Agent Nartana. With a wave, the officer hurried to the elevator. Riding up it, she returned to the surface.

In her absence, Nartana searched through the rest of the books on the desk. None of them had the same markings. Although the dictionary was tempting, he would have to think more on the meaning of it later. Right now he needed to find a current location for the escaped man. Nothing that he found pointed to the travel route, so Nartana left the starting place to the escape.

With Nartana’s mind on the goal, he walked to the elevator. Entering it, he took his data pad out of his pocket. Bringing up the site for addresses he searched through the information for anything relating to the prisoner. Once he found a list of known associates, he searched for what could be Torch’s girlfriend. With a few candidates selected, he left the elevator.

Nodding to the guard, Nartana continued out of the secure location. As he passed through the gates, he scanned the parking lot for his driver. Catching sight of the car, he called out, Officer Leontyne?

Here, she said, rolling down the window. Where do you want to go?

I’ll tell you in the car, Nartana replied. He walked to the passenger side door. Pulling it open, he slid inside. Once seated, he put the address into the navigation system. Here, this may be the girlfriend’s apartment.

Do you want me to go in with you?

No, because we will probably have to leave again right away.

Okay, Leontyne said. She drove out of the prison’s parking lot onto the service road. Heading up to the surface, she exited the access point onto the main thoroughfare. From there she followed the directions to their first destination. They were still in South Side, so the streets were fairly barren.

Nartana glanced around for any sign of the escaped prisoners. He barely saw any police presence in this area, so he relaxed slightly. Once they arrived in front of the building he tensed up again. I’ll be right back. Exiting the car, he hurried to the front door. There were only a few levels in these styles of apartments. Even so, they had elevators. Riding up the rickety box, he exited on her floor.

Behind the door at another apartment building, a slightly older woman nervously waited for any news. The reports on the television were more frightening than what she saw outside. The lack of movement outside during the busiest time of day was something that would disturb anyone, however. Twisting her fingers through one rogue curl, she tugged on it and looked out of the window.

Nartana tapped on the other door. Holding his badge up to the peephole, he said, This is Agent Nartana. I need you to open the door.

Slightly opening the door, a much older woman peeked through the crack between it and the frame. Once she took a second look at the badge, she unlocked the chain. Pulling her door open fully, the black haired woman asked, Hello Agent. What do you need?

Nartana exchanged his badge for his data pad. You’ve seen the news.

Yes, but I didn’t think you’d come to my door.

Flipping through the mug shots, Nartana brought up Torch’s. You were listed as part of this prisoner’s crowd. Showing the photo to her, he watched her expression. Do you know where he is?

No, she replied, shaking her head. I haven’t spoken to him in seven years.

Ah, well, we have to check everyone. Nartana switched from the mug shots to other known associates. When you left, were any of these people still with him?

Staring at the photos, the woman replied, I only recognize two. She pointed at a black haired man and a redheaded woman. These three were practically inseparable when I left.

What was it like?

Well, we did a lot of dumb kid stuff even as adults. With Torch as the only one caught in the group, I wouldn’t be surprised if the two remaining ones were to get married. We can officially do that as soon as we turn twenty-eight after all. That time is coming up soon for all of us.

You left before they got into the hardcore stuff then.

Yes, she said. The black haired woman wrapped her arms across her chest. It makes me wonder how things would have turned out if I’d stayed.

There’s no way to predict that. Shaking his head, Nartana tucked his data pad into his pocket. Thank you for your time. As the woman closed the door, the agent left the apartment.

Waiting in the car below, Leontyne watched for him to exit the door. Smiling as he did, she spoke out, How did it go?

Climbing into the passenger’s side, Nartana replied, I have a lead. He put the new address into the navigation device. We go here.

But that’s a man’s home. Leontyne blinked at him. Aren’t we looking for a woman?

We are looking for where the escaped convict is hiding. Chuckling softly, he gestured to the street. Drive. If he’s not at one acquaintance’s home then we check another.

Okay, Leontyne replied. Putting the car into drive, she wove them through the streets to the next place. I stay here, right?

Right, Nartana murmured. With a nod, he exited the car. Walking up to the next apartment building, he entered the two floor high structure. This man’s home was on the main level. Walking down the hallway, he stopped at the door.

Pulling open his door, the raven haired man smirked at the younger man. I figured that I’d be interviewed sooner or later.

I’m Agent Nartana. What can you tell me about the escaped prisoners?

Shaking his head, the man leaned against the doorframe. All I know is that Torch went to prison. He’s the one who set the fire after all. The others I don’t know.

Alright, Nartana said. About Torch, what do you know about the others that he traveled with in the old days?

Like me? The man smirked. I’m not admitting to anything. I don’t know where he is and I don’t care. I’m not involved with him.

So you wouldn’t be hiding him.

No way. I’m not his mate anymore.

Nartana plucked his data pad from his pocket. So, which one of these do you think would be? Bringing up the photo array, he held it out to the other man.

Lifting his eyebrow, the raven haired man glanced between them. "It’s not that I don’t want to help. I haven’t been in contact with Torch since he went to jail. That guy is