The Doll Maker: Jack Slater, #1

By C.J. Cunningham

After six months out of work after the death of his wife, Jack Slater is back and newly promoted to the role of detective. His first case, The Dollmaker, a serial killer hunting the streets of Auckland killing his victims and removing parts from their bodies. Can Jack track him down before he strikes again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: C.J. Cunningham
• Release date: May 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201962753

Book preview

1 

3rd March 1996

6.59 am

Staring back at him, a reflection of grief and hopelessness.

Is this who he is now? A broken man?

Trapped in a cycle of torment, the disturbing thoughts causing his mind to spiral back and forth about how to deal with the pain.

The glimmer in Jack’s eyes had gone to a sullen grey, something he couldn’t get used to. He tried to force a smile, but couldn’t. He picked up one of the many bottles of Advil from the bathroom counter, ripped the lid off and swallowed two of them, praying to himself that they will make the pain go away.

‘C’mon!’ Jack whispered to himself. He leant over the counter, glaring into the mirror at his reflection. ‘Make it go away.’

He took a deep breath, exhaled, and exited the bathroom and back towards his bed. He sat on the right hand side of the bed, where the sheets were strewn about and messy. On the other side of the bed, the sheets lay flat and tidy. And cold.

So cold.

This was his life- confined within his Auckland City apartment; back to the torment of his own personal hell- alone with misery as his only companion. Everything that happened within the past six months was a continuous rollercoaster of pain that surged throughout his entire body, particularly to the core of his heart.

Shit.

He lay back in his bed, but the pain in his lower back made him wince in pain.

Nope.

He fought for all the energy remaining in his body and sat himself up against the headboard of his double bed.

His vision was blurry, a common side effect of the anti-depressants.

It was 2 am and he didn’t know why he was still up. He had three half-read books sitting atop his bedside table that he was eager to read to try and forget his pain, but he couldn’t. His mind was too busy to be distracted.

He looked around the room.

Clothing was scattered across the floor. Books, paperwork and other miscellaneous items were strewn across the ground. His bedside tables and night stands were all untidy and the drawers were pulled out, some of them completely removed from the night stand.  

It looked like the room had been ransacked.

But one thing still sat perfectly in its place, facing slightly out of view of Jack’s view from where he was sitting. He leant forward catching a quick glimpse of it.

A picture of his late wife, Sarah.

A perfect image of her sitting in a small 6 x 4 inch frame sat atop the far edge of his bedside table atop of a series of action novels. His life, the woman he loved, all gone in a matter of seconds. Every few minutes his mind reverted back to their last moments together.

Jack and Sarah decided to drive home after a quiet night out with their old neighbours, the Morrison’s. They had an enjoyable time at a restaurant in the middle of the town. It was an hour long drive back from the outskirts of the city to their lively apartment complex in the centre of Auckland.

Jack had made the drive every few weeks from home to see the Morrison’s. It was an easy drive, usually down the long, lonesome road. Unfortunately, that night changed it for ever. Having a few drinks of beer throughout the night, Jack was behind the wheel driving throughout the pitch black night.

In a matter of seconds, he lost control and the car flipped into a ditch. Sarah died instantly, but Jack clutched on for his life.

Severely bruised, bloodied and broken, a car passing in the other direction noticed the mangled Ford Explorer immersed within the ditch on the side of the country road. The young couple stopped and called emergency services.

Within twenty minutes, emergency services had arrived. Jack was driven to the hospital where he remained in a coma for five days.

Upon coming out of the coma, Jack found himself surrounded by his friends and co-workers of The Auckland Central Police Department. He heard the news of what happened to Sarah.

It was a quick death, she did not suffer and she left the world within a matter of seconds.

Jack’s life had suddenly changed.

One bad decision haunted every second of the remainder of his life.

Sarah was gone.

He couldn’t get her back.

Jack brushed his messy, brunette hair out of his dark green eyes. It was a constant struggle for him in the morning trying to tame his wild hair. He had to push it back to be able to see clearly. He sat hunched over on the side of the bed opposite the upright, standing mirror next to his messy dresser drawers.

It was the same process every morning and night for the past six months- a series of nightmares involving the crash and the last moments of him speaking to his darling Sarah.

The car door slams, witty, alcohol induced banter, maniacal jokes and laughter- all ending with the thunderous impact of the car hitting the centre of the ditch. Jack would wake up dazed and confused- a lack of motivation and dwelling in self-pity. After popping several painkillers as if they candy, he would get up, shower, have some breakfast, and lie on the sofa and watch a couple of movies until he fell asleep.

His life had turned to black.

Jack’s life without his darling Sarah was a never ending struggle. A constant pain from the heartache he was living through- Jack’s dark thoughts punishing him for making one fateful decision.

Jack stood up, his feet brushed against the cold, wooden floor.

He sighed deeply and closed his eyes.

It was his first day back at work in six months. He felt strong and determined to move forward with everything in his life.

He bent over and reached for a crumpled up blue towel next to his bed on the floor. He shook it clean. He flung it over his left shoulder, and confidently strolled towards his ensuite as he brushed his hand against his bristly, unkempt beard.

The lights blinded him when he flicked them on. He placed the towel on the hook on the back of his ensuite door and kicked it shut. He walked past the mirror over the sink keeping his eyes down. He couldn’t bear to look at himself.

He slowly pulled the glass, shower door open, leant over and turned the shower knob on. Cold water sprayed all over his face unexpectedly.

Not a good start to the day.

He quickly removed his dirty, white shirt he had slept in and threw it on the floor.

Ding!

Jack exited the room quickly and over to his dressing table. He flicked open his Nokia 6650 and saw a new text message. He clicked into the message and read it.

Ben: You coming into work today?

Jack started to type.

Yes, I’ll be there at 9.

Ben: Sweet as, we have a surprise for you.

Jack put his phone back down.

A surprise, he thought. What could it be?

A new day, and a new chapter to his life.

***

Jack rolled the sleeves up on his long, white polo shirt and tucked the bottom of it into his dark, black jeans. He slicked his hair back and readied himself to leave the apartment for the first time in three weeks. Jack’s life had been difficult- he had relied on his best friend and work mate Alyshia Jamieson to bring him food weekly and make sure he was in a good physical and mental state.

But today he felt more positive. He was ready to leave the apartment and face the world again, especially at his job in the Auckland City Police Department in Mount Wellington.

When life turned south in a matter of seconds after losing his wife, Jack was in the process of transitioning from a forensic pathologist in the morgue within the station to a police detective. It was something he had been struggling with for quite some time. His job had become mundane and depressing, but since the unfortunate timing of his wife’s passing he was still stuck as a forensic pathologist. He began to feel like it was not worth coming back to work if he was going to be back doing the same tedious, day-to-day job he had been doing for the past several years. However, he knew that it was going to be good seeing everyone again.

‘Do I need a tie?’ he asked himself.

Despite now living alone, Jack would talk to himself more regularly than he would like. It made him feel a little less lonely in life. If he felt too shut off and reclusive from his work mates and friends, he would put his cell phone on silent and have conversations with himself. Whether he was becoming crazy was a separate issue in his mind.

‘Nah,’ he commented. ‘I guess not.’

He picked up his cell phone off the dresser table, shoved it in his right pocket and worked up the courage to look into the mirror in front of him. His reflection stared back at him. He forced a smile, his pearly white teeth sparkling back at him.

He felt strong today.

He walked towards the door and pulled it open.

‘Hey!’

Jack was startled. He almost forced himself up against the door that flung itself shut behind him. Jack darted his head from left to right.

To his left stood his neighbour two doors down on his right- Miss Ashley Brookes, a 24 year old single mother living within the high rise apartment block with her 2 year old son, Jamie. In Jack’s eyes, she was a wise, young girl, ten years younger than himself. Although she appeared blonde, ditsy and superficial, she was very bright, lovely and flirtatious with Jack, even when Sarah was still alive. She worked just down the street at a jewellers to support herself and her son while she tried to save up to move back home to Perth to be closer to her family.

‘Oh, Ashley!’ Jack exclaimed. ‘How are you? You gave me a fright.’

‘Oh, I’m so sorry,’ she giggled. She gave Jack a playful shove. ‘It’s good to see that you’re leaving your apartment today. You must be doing a bit better.’

Jack looked from her ocean blue eyes to the tiled floor beneath him. He felt bad looking at her the way he was. An image of Sarah beamed into his mind. But, in a flash, it had disappeared.

‘Yeah,’ Jack replied, softly nodding his head. ‘I figured it was time.’

‘Still tough,’ Ashley surmised. Her bubbly personality changed to sympathetic. ‘It’s understandable. It’s all a matter of looking after yourself and making sure you healthy and happy.’

‘Hmm,’ Jack responded.

‘Are you just getting some fresh air?’ Ashley asked, firmly. ‘Or something to eat? I’d be happy to join you.’

‘I am going back to work today,’ Jack said, strongly. He knew what she was trying to do, and he didn’t want to waste either his or her time.

‘I’m proud of you,’ Ashley said with a gleaming smile on her face.

‘Thank you,’ Jack replied.

‘Are they looking forward to you coming back?’ Ashley asked, inquisitively.

Jack knew what he had to say.

‘Sorry Ashley,’ he began, ‘but I’m going to have to go.’

‘To work?’ Ashley asked. She seemed confused.

‘To work,’ Jack said, firmly. ‘I’ll see you some other time.’

Ashley went to respond, but Jack had softly pushed his way past her. He didn’t know if he had said the right thing or not, but he had to do what he thought was best for him at this point.

He headed towards the stairwell and out of her life.

2

3rd March 1996

9.35 am

––––––––

Mount Wellington Police Department.

6a Harrison Street.

Jack looked up at the sign to his work above him. It had been six months since he had stood inside the police department.

He was nervous.

He took a deep breath and nervously clambered up towards the large glass doors that automatically opened for him.  

In an instant, someone jumped straight into his arms and wrapped their arms around his waist.

‘Jack!’ the high pitched female voice screamed at him. Her arms wrapped tightly around his body and kissed him on the cheek.

‘Whoa!’ Jack responded.

Startled twice in one day- things were coming from left to right and he didn’t know how to respond.

The individual backed off from him and stood back.

‘Oh!’ Jack exclaimed, putting his left hand on his chest. His heart was racing. ‘Alyshia! Were you waiting to give me a heart attack?’

Alyshia chuckled.

She brushed her long, brunette hair from her hazel eyes and pulled her black, cotton cardigan tighter over her shoulders.  She wiped a couple of tears from the corner of her eyes- tears of happiness. She had missed seeing Jack at work in the past six months, but she had seen him almost every week since Sarah had passed away. Despite her never meeting Sarah, Alyshia knew it was best to keep her distance from Sarah. She knew Sarah had problems with insecurity in her relationship and she didn’t want to get too involved in his personal life.

‘How are you?’ Alyshia asked. ‘I’ve missed you. It’s been a bit quiet around here.’

‘Really?’

‘Gosh yes!’ Alyshia responded. ‘There’s no jokester in this place anymore.’

‘I’ve worked here for six years,’ Jack responded with a smile. ‘You’re never been called the jokester before.’

‘I thought it was just implied,’ Alyshia snickered.

‘I thought, if anything, this idiot would be the jokester,’ Jack responded. He eyed up someone who walked up behind Alyshia.

‘I am- and always will be- the jokester, my friend,’ the male said and he swiftly walked past Alyshia and up to Jack. He gave Jack an inviting hug.

‘Ben, mate,’ Jack said taking a couple of steps back from the man. ‘How are you?’

The man stood over Jack. Standing at six foot four, he made Jack look tiny standing at a mere five foot nine.

‘I was going to ask you the same thing,’ Ben replied. ‘You sort of shut yourself off from all of us.’

‘Yeah,’ Jack responded. He thought back to those dark moments confined within his small apartment complex. ‘I apologise.’

‘No, don’t apologise!’ Ben responded, almost too forcefully.  

‘Yeah,’ Alyshia chimed in. ‘It’s not easy what had happened.’

‘But you are doing better aren’t you?’ Ben asked.

Despite Jack knowing that Ben was an overly sarcastic and immature person, since his wife’s death, he had showed his softer side and that he could be a caring and considerate friend when he needed to.

‘I wouldn’t go that far,’ Jack said, glumly. ‘But I’m doing my best. So what’s this surprise, eh?’

‘You told him?’ Alyshia asked looking up at Ben.

‘I may have hinted at it,’ he responded.

‘What is it?’ Jack asked, curiously.

Ben gave Jack a smirk. ‘Well I think it’s-’

‘Ah!’ a deep, husky voice echoed in the distance. ‘Mr. Slater. Good to see you again, sir.’

Jack looked up, and behind a large desk to the right side of the large open room, was a plump, middle aged man standing up and glancing towards Jack with both hands placed firmly on his hips. It was Jack’s boss, Captain John Caine.

A strong minded and, considered amongst the staff of the Mount Wellington Police Force, a ruthless and hard man. He had a particular way of things getting done and wasn’t shy of letting people aware of that. He brushed at the thick, bushy, yet thinning hair, on the side of his head. He walked out from behind of the desk, his large body waddling side to side. He weighed almost 120kgs yet was only stood at five foot eight inches high. Despite his size, he had an intimidating look and stature that infused fear into everyone he met. His cold, bleak eyes stared at Jack as he raised his arm and gestured Jack in his direction.

‘Come on, Jack,’ Caine said.  

Alyshia and Ben looked towards Jack with concern as they knew what was in store for him. Through Jack’s tough times and the incident that caused it, Caine was supportive of Jack’s wellbeing, but purely from a business and work colleague perspective.

‘Let’s have a quick chat,’ Caine said putting his hand on Jack’s left shoulder as he walked past him and towards Caine’s office behind the desk. The attendant behind the desk, Jessica, spoke quietly on the headset wrapped around her head. She looked up at Jack as he slowly walked past her with Caine slowly pacing behind, scratching at his grey, bushy moustache.

Jessica looked at him, gave him a soft smile and a subtle wink.

Jack smiled back.

He turned through the doorway to the right and down a small hallway to the left.

‘Just in here,’ Caine said.

Jack stopped and turned to Caine to see where he was gesturing. He noticed Caine had two folders in his hands that he didn’t have earlier.

Wonder where he got them, Jack thought. What’s all of this about?

Caine pointed to the right to a doorway into a large, brightly lit room with his free hand.

‘You changed office, sir,’ Jack said calmly.

‘I did,’ Caine replied. ‘Now, please, come in.’

Caine walked ahead and Jack, slowly and hesitantly, followed behind him. He walked into the depressing, white room. Jack thought Caine’s office was like a padded cell. The walls were a bright white with no artwork used to decorate it. There was a large window rising from the floor to the ceiling on the far side of the room. Jack looked outside and noticed it had begun raining outside.

The heavy rain and the dullness of the room began to make Jack’s mind spiral down. His depression and sadness were constantly fuelled by these minor things.

‘Can you please shut the door, Jack?’ Caine asked, politely.

A clock on the wall ticked loudly. A small fern plant in a pot on the side of the room was beginning to wither away. It clearly had not been attended to in quite some time. The lights in the room were dull and didn’t highlight the room whatsoever.

In Jack’s mind, it was probably for the best. He didn’t want any other reason to feel down today.

He was beginning to feel like it might be too soon to be back to work.

Caine took a seat behind his desk, scoffing to himself as he hit several buttons at his computer.

‘You’re okay to talk?’ Caine asked, softly.

Caine’s behaviour was catching Jack off-guard every time he spoke. He was not used to Caine being so firm and polite.

‘Yeah, I guess,’ Jack said taking a seat opposite him.

Caine seemed a bit unfocused and was going from looking at Jack to his computer screen.

Suddenly, there was an eruption of lightning outside the window behind them lighting the room up in a flash.

‘Whoa!’ Caine said turning his head around. ‘The weather has taken a turn, hasn’t it?’

‘It sure has,’ Jack responded. He tried to remain as calm and relaxed as possible. He knew Caine had something of importance to say to him, and he didn’t appreciate Caine putting on a certain persona to tell him. Jack looked at the name stand on his desk.

Detective Chief Inspector John Caine.

‘So, how have you been?’ Caine asked, looking up at Jack.

Jack sighed.

‘Yeah, I’m okay. Better today, I guess.’

‘Because it was a tragic thing that happened,’ Caine said. ‘I just want to make sure you have the proper resources available to you to get better.’

‘I’m not too sure,’ Jack responded. ‘I have my friends, I guess.’

‘As long as you aren’t blaming yourself for this,’ Caine said. He stared back into Jack’s eyes trying to understand how Jack was feeling in that very moment.

‘It’s hard not to,’ Jack replied. ‘I shouldn’t have got into the car.’

Jack looked down at his hands resting in his lap. They began to shake. Thoughts and images began to reappear in his mind of that fateful night.

My darling Sarah, he thought. I miss you.

‘What’s happened has happened,’ Caine said. ‘We just have to make sure you’re doing your best at this point.’

‘I am,’ Jack replied. ‘I’ll get better in time.’

‘I’m glad,’ Caine said. ‘I’m afraid I’ve got some- well- not bad news, but not the best news either.’

Jack knew something was up.

‘What would have be?’ Jack asked sitting up straight in the chair. He folded his arms.

He looked behind Caine and saw the rain pouring down at a strong angle hitting the ground with force. The weather was getting more and more ferocious.

‘Well, it’s with regards to your job,’ Caine said. He rested his elbows on the desk and leant on his palms. ‘Obviously, when things went- well you know- you were in the transition from working as a forensic pathologist to becoming a detective on the force.’

‘Uh, yes,’ Jack replied.

At that point, Jack began to regret coming back to work.

His mind was turning dark.

‘Well, you remember the guy we were getting from the Botany branch to fill your role?’ Caine asked.

‘Yes,’ Jack said.

‘He unfortunately didn’t want to go through with it,’ Caine continued. ‘So, we have no-one to do that job. I mean, don’t get me wrong, Jackson could do the role. You two were great working together, but I don’t think he should be doing it alone down there.’

‘So, I’m back where I started,’ Jack replied. He tried to hide his emotions, but the anger was bubbling up inside him.

‘Not necessarily,’ Caine replied.

That response caught Jack by surprise.

‘What do you mean?’ Jack asked.

‘We are making you detective,’ Caine replied.

Jack sighed and shook his head.

A sense of relief flowed through him and he felt a weight release off his shoulders. The anger disappeared in an instant. He was overcome with relief.

‘Are you serious?’ Jack said wiping his noise. He felt a tear roll down from the corner of his eyes.

‘Absolutely,’ Caine said sitting back down in his chair. ‘I thought you’d like that. So you are going to be a detective, but we’ll still need you to support Jackson where he needs it. I hope we aren’t asking too much from you.’

‘No, no, not at all, sir,’ Jack responded.

‘Okay,’ Caine said. ‘Good. It’s a shame, ’cause you were one hell of a pathologist, but I know you’ll be a great detective too. You really deserve this.’

‘Thank you, sir,’ Jack said, sincerely.

‘Don’t thank me,’ Caine said raising his hand. ‘Thank Alyshia. She advocated for you. So don’t let us down.’

‘I won’t, sir,’ Jack said. ‘So, where do I start? What’s the plan?’

‘Well,’ Caine began, ‘you’ll still have your work station down stairs in the basement with Jackson. I’ll just get Robert to set up a desk and computer for you.’

‘Robert?’ Jack asked. ‘Robert Callagher? I thought he left.’

‘Well, you know how it is, some people you can’t get in the force and there are others you can’t get rid of,’ Caine said with a smirk.

Jack smirked back.

‘Unbelievable,’ Jack said. ‘And the cases? What do I start on?’

‘Whoa!’ Caine gasped. ‘Right in there huh?! But, yes, I have one for you. And I have high hopes for you on it.’

‘Oh yeah?’ Jack responded. ‘And what would that be, sir?’

‘The Doll Maker,’ Caine responded.

The name struck fear into the heart of Jack. It had become infamous within New Zealand in the past couple of years. Everyone knew the name, and everyone had known of the horrific crimes committed by this deranged individual. Despite having many leading investigators and detectives working the case over the years, very little had been discovered and many have feared that he may never be caught.

‘Are you serious?’ Jack asked.

Caine picked up one of the folders he had walked in with, leant over the desk and handed it to Jack.

Jack flicked it open.

‘I know you had done a few autopsies on some of the victims,’ Caine responded. He watched Jack’s eyes flutter over the pages of evidence and leads on The Doll Maker.

‘I did,’ Jack said. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it.’

‘So... have you been following the case on the news?’ Caine asked, curiously.

‘Not particularly,’ Jack replied.

‘It’s gone cold,’ Caine explained. ‘There hasn’t been any new information on him in almost 8 months and his last victim was almost a year ago.’

He pointed at the page that Jack had the folder open on.

‘Sarah Fisher,’ Caine said. ‘Washed up on the beach. Remember her?’

Jack shook his head.

‘No,’ he replied. ‘I didn’t do her autopsy.’

‘Ah,’ Caine replied. ‘And since then, nothing. Not a letter. Nothing at all.’

‘Who else is working the case?’ Jack asked.

‘Right now?’ Caine asked. ‘No-one. We had Bill Roberts on it, but he’s on vacation currently.’

‘Again?’ Jack responded.

‘Yeah,’ Caine responded. ‘But I was thinking maybe I get Alyshia to help you out on it.’

‘Really?’ Jack asked.

Jack had always assumed Caine didn’t like Alyshia working in the department as her work and methodology with what she contributed was sloppy and unprofessional. Along with that issue, there was also an on-going rumour within the department that Jack and Alyshia weren’t simply just friends.

‘Yes,’ Caine said. ‘I know she’s got a few other things she’s working on, but I don’t want you working on this alone. Not a case of this magnitude anyway.’

‘Well, thank you, sir,’ Jack said. He stood up.

Caine also stood up from behind his desk.

‘Just do some reading and try and learn about everything and do your best,’ Caine said. ‘And remember, just yell out if you need anything.’

‘Once again, thank you.’

‘Good luck,’ Caine said stretching his arm out.

Jack clasped Caine’s hand and shook it.

‘I’ll do my best.’

***

Knock.

Knock.

Jack tapped softly on the wall to Alyshia’s office cubicle. Jack peeked around the corner glimpsing at her hard at work behind her desk.

She looked up instantly from the paper work she was filling in carefully. She smiled back at Jack and removed her thick lensed glasses and placed them carefully on her computer monitor.

Jack walked up to her and saw how messy and unkempt the desk was. Paperwork all over the place, her Apple Macintosh computer dusty, and food and lolly wrappers scattered all over the place.

‘Same old Alyshia,’ Jack said with a chuckle.

‘Huh,’ Alyshia said. She flicked her brunette hair behind her shoulders as she stood up and walked towards Jack.

‘The desk,’ Jack said. ‘I guess you’ve got a maid at home now.’

‘Haha, you bet,’ Alyshia responded.

‘Here,’ Jack said outstretching his arms. ‘Give me a hug.’

Alyshia embraced him and wrapped her