Rigged

By Eduard Meinema

When Taylor & Balon investigate a complex murder case, they become entangled in a world of deceit and manipulation. Who can you rely on if you don't know who your friends are?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eduard Meinema
• Release date: May 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005383152

Eduard Meinema

"I love writing into the dark; like to be surprised by the characters scavenging through my own stories. Just before things are getting familiar; when I think, or at least believe, to know where a new story is going to, I give it a twist and make my readers (and myself) wonder... how the hell is this going to end?"WORDS and VISIONEduard Meinema is writer and visual artist. He writes in an exciting and humorous style. Creates intense, passionate and mysterious stories filled with unexpected twists which will seduce anyone to finish reading at full speed. Beside his full length novels, Eduard is fond of writing Flash Fiction and Short Stories. All of these 'Twisted Tales' are published as stand alone eBooks in the series 'Flash & Shorts'.Meinema's works of art include so called 'lyric abstract' paintings. Expressionistic works made of Acrylics and Sand. But also Pop-art, including characters known as 'Skredches' (Yes! There is a blog:check out the official site to find blog feeds!!) and...fish paintings. As Meinema says: "Ah! I love fish. Love to see them. Love to keep them. Breed them, paint them, eat them... (ouch, sorry for that...). Oh yeah, I love fish in each and every way."Meinema, born 1963 (Delft, The Netherlands) is former CEO of a temp office, specialized in contracting technicians. Together with his wife he has managed a gallery for contemporary art and jewelry for more than ten years. Nowadays Meinema is fulltime writer and visual artist.

Book preview

1

Aubrey Taylor looked up to the big man blocking her way. I’d love to pass by please…, she said as her eyes darted boldly past his broad and muscular body, … Mr. Burrows. She absorbed every detail on his uniform. She had immediately seen the tag with his name and Shinzo’s logo and saved it in her memory.

I can’t let you through, Burrows said in a voice that vibrated so heavily that Aubrey could feel her heart tremble.

Damn Keith, she thought. Where are you? I need you! She showed Burrows her badge. Detective Taylor. Homicide, she said calmly, assuming the guard would now let her into Grenfill High School.

The coarsely built guard securely read her badge and far more carefully than Aubrey expected. Mrs. Taylor, this school is currently under the responsibility of the Shinzo JCS intervention team. I’m sorry but I can’t let you in.

I need to speak to the director, Aubrey said ignoring his remark. Philip Norman.

Burrows looked at her sternly. Director Norman has been suspended.

His replacement then, Redmond Norris? she said persistently. She made an effort to slip past Burrows into the hallway, but Burrows’ big hands closed around her waist.

Director Norman is not here and his replacement has no time, Burrows grumbled as he pushed Aubrey back out.

Of course she knew Philip Norman was suspended. She had no reason to keep him at the police station any longer, so he had to go home. Even though he didn’t want to. He had to. Time would tell whether that was the right decision. However, Shinzo JCS itself had drawn conclusions and put Norman on hold. Now it was up to Aubrey to reconnect with Redmond Norris and Alex Thomas. The presence of Shinzo JCS’s intervention team here at Grenfill College came as an unpleasant surprise to her. Okay, if Norris doesn’t have time I’d like to speak to Alex Thomas.

Burrows slowly shook his head.

Annoyed, Aubrey reached for her phone. She hadn’t used his number for a while and doubted he would be willing to speak to her again. Fortunately, he answered immediately. Coach Thomas? she asked. I have a, um, minor problem here. She looked up to gauge Burrows’ reaction. But he didn’t budge. She listened briefly to what Alex Thomas told her. Then gave her phone to Burrows and said, Listen to what the coach has to tell you.

Don’t bother, Burrows growled without even bothering to reach for her phone. The director does not determine who can or cannot enter here. And certainly not the coach.

She looked at the Shinzo guard in disbelief. Well? she sneered at Alex. And now what?

I’ll come to you, Alex Thomas sighed.

While waiting for the coach, she looked around the square. The atmosphere was unpleasantly grim. Several guards from Shinzo JCS were walking around. Although they tried not to show their guns too flashy, Aubrey saw right away that the guards were armed. Upon the tiles of the schoolyard, she saw two faded drawings that her colleagues on the forensics team had drawn around the bodies of Jake Moncha and Trinity Witherspoon. The alleged suicide of Jake Moncha. That was where all the misery she and her colleagues had now gotten into had started. At this time there were no students outside the school. They were all inside now. She looked involuntarily at the plethora of cameras. It seemed that everything was working normally again. On the one hand, a pity about Whitaker’s work; on the other hand, it might be for the better. She couldn’t imagine the students being able to walk around here unsupervised. Not these students …

Mrs. Taylor? Thomas asked formally.

Alex! Thank you for coming over to speak to me.

Alex Thomas looked timidly at the guard who was even taller and more solidly built than the well-trained coach. Unfortunately I don’t have much time, so I propose that we meet this afternoon after classes. Then I will have plenty of time to discuss all kind of things with you. The way Burrows looked at him and unabashedly overheard the conversation made him nervous.

Aubrey would have preferred to have that conversation right now. But she knew better. Fine. Where do we meet? Before Alex could respond, she realized that not only Burrows was listening. The many cameras at Grenfill High were not only used to keep an eye on the young offenders who served their sentence here in semi-freedom, but were undoubtedly also used to record conversations as she and coach Thomas had right now, right here. You know what? I’ll send you a text message later.

Alex nodded understandingly. Please do. He watched Aubrey until she left the schoolyard. Does the interim director know about this? Burrows asked.

Norris? Alex asked. Burrows’s almost gruff look made Alex nervous. Redmond knows everything, he said truthfully.

Burrows continued with a stoic look: I was talking about the interim director. Duncan Bradley.

I, um, I’m going to tell him later, Alex said. After class, he called over his shoulder as he walked away quickly.

Burrows tapped a message to interim director Bradley on his smartphone. Do that, he muttered. But Coach Thomas was too far away to hear him.

Disappointed, Aubrey got into her black SUV. The presence of Shinzo JCS’s intervention team at Grenfill High School had taken her by surprise. Stupid. After Philip Norman had told her a few things about Grenfill High, she should at least have taken that into account. Now she was lagging behind once again. Nevertheless. Admittedly, the conversation she wanted to have with Alex Thomas and Redmond Norris could not take place due to Burrows’ rigid attitude. Luckily she was able to meet up with Alex Thomas later that day. She could still see him in front of her. There he stood, like a schoolboy, next to the great Burrows. A good opportunity for him to experience how his students felt standing next to him, Aubrey chuckled. Alex’s whole demeanor radiated displeasure. It was clear to her that the coach was not happy with the presence of the intervention team.

The knock on her window sounded almost like a drum roll. Aubrey was startled by the unexpected sound. Fuck! she cried. Can’t you knock like a normal person? Or gently tap the window?

FBI agent Dustin Kramer pointed his finger at Aubrey. This afternoon. You and me. At the station Taylor!

Charmer, Aubrey bitterly replied.

Kramer wanted to say something in return, but did not get the chance. His colleague quickly pulled him into the schoolyard by his sleeve. This afternoon, you can go ahead, and do all you want to do, Merlyn Kramer said. For now we will consult director Bradley first.

2

Aubrey stared at the two FBI agents in surprise. Director Bradley? I thought Redmond Norris.. How do they know there is a new director? I didn’t even fucking know there was an intervention team on Grenfill. And how were they able to arrange an appointment with him so quickly?

She heard her smartphone buzz. Unknown number, it said in the display. Hello? she said curious to know who was calling her.

"Oh. So you do answer your phone? Only not when I call you? " a sore man’s voice said.

Goddamn Harold. I’m working.

You’re always working … honey, Aubrey’s ex-husband Harold Brunswick said jokingly. Anyway, apparently I just have to borrow someone’s phone to call you anonymously …

Harold! Not now! I’m in the middle of a case …

"You are always in the middle of a case Aubrey. But we really have to sit down and have a discussion, or the divorce will never come through. And believe me, that is more annoying for you than for me.’

Well, Aubrey thought. I doubt whether it could be any worse than it is now. Don’t you read the papers, Harold?

Newspapers? Harold laughed. No wonder that you are running after the facts. If you still read the newspapers in these days…

Okay, okay, the social media then? It’s all over the news Harold. The hit on our station. So. Thank you for expressing your compassion. For asking me me how I’m doing. Can we get back to work now? I’ll call you as soon as this case is resolved.

So. And when is that? This century?

Maybe so, Aubrey sighed. Bye now Harold!

She had just finished the call when the phone rang again. For a moment she doubted whether she should take it or not. Afraid that Harold would call her back right away to get even with her. But this was not an unknown number. Keith? she said, somewhat relieved that her colleague finally contacted her. Where have you been?

I had to pick up something.

What?

Something for myself.

With whom? Aubrey asked suspiciously.

Leave that with me Aubrey, Keith responded irritably. How are thins going there? What did Norris and Thomas say?

You’re not on those pills again, are you Keith? The following silence was a little too long for Aubrey’s liking. Keith? she repeated more forcefully. Did you see that Angela again?

Will I see you in the hospital? Keith said irritably.

You know what I told you Keith. Either those pill have to go, or you will…

"I’m not addicted Aubrey. And as for Angela; you don’t know her. So take a deep breath and tell me what you found out.’

If you had been here, I wouldn’t have had to tell you everything.

I can already tell. You’ve had one of those joyful meetings again.

Aubrey rubbed her forehead. She didn’t feel like arguing with Keith, not again. Listen. Norris and Alex… Coach Thomas, have nothing to say here any more. Grenfill High has been taken over by an intervention team from Shinzo JCS. I was told to leave the schoolyard by one of the guards. And guess what? I just got here, sitting in my car, when that dwarf - Kramer - taps on my window.

Dustin? From the FBI?

That’s the one, yes. He’s getting more annoying by the minute. Says coolly that we have to be at the desk this afternoon.

We? You and me? That is not going to work. We have to be in the hospital in an hour.

And that is exactly what we are going to do. Kramer and Kramer just will have to wait. Although I would like to speak to them before meeting with Alex.

Um… What kind of an appointment, Aubrey? Work related, I hope?

Yes, Keith. Do not worry. This is all about work. Just like you and Angela…

Keith decided to ignore her comment. So, our plan can still succeed?

Our plan?

Well, you know …

Hmm. Yes, said Aubrey. I sure do know, she thought. Provided that Alex gets to hear anything. Because, to be honest, I’m afraid that Shinzo JCS is full in control. And it will do anything to stay in control.

All the more reason to visit these boys’ headquarters quickly.

What if you start with that Kelly first?

Yes, well, she’s from Shinzo Security. Not from JCS, Keith protested.

We’ll talk about Keith later. I’ll see you in fifteen minutes at the entrance of the hospital.

But, we don’t have to be there for an hour!

Fifteen minutes, Keith!

3

Are you all right, Tess? Keith asked undercover cop Tessa Roxburgh.

Tessa put her cart of medicine aside. Let me put it this way Keith, I am better off nursing than police work at the moment.

Keith was shocked at her openness. Tess! Watch what you say!

How so? There is no one here; just the two of us.

You can never be sure.

Jesus, what had gotten into you so suddenly?

Stay careful, Tess. Always and everywhere.

Okay Mr. Expert. But tell me why are you here so early? She checked the watch that, like many nurses do, hung from her uniform. The mayor won’t be there for another hour.

I know. But Mrs. Taylor suddenly started itching for the hardware again.

Ah, and you, my dear sweet boy, have listened to her.

Yep. He glanced at the room at the end of the hall.

You can visit him, Tessa said. She had long realized that Keith was curious to hear how Ted Sheegan was doing.

No thanks. That man needs his rest.

Oh. Shall I go and say that to his wife? Because she is now with him.

Mrs. Sheegan?

That’s what I said. Or should I be careful with that too?

Okay Tess. You made your point. But um, Mrs. Sheegan is there? And soon mayor Chisholm will come?

Are you okay Keith? I think it’s time for your pill. Shall I see what I have on my cart? Tessa laughed.

Don’t let Aubrey hear it. Keith made no further comment, but his mind went back to the moment just before the attack on Mayor Chisholm and his colleague, forensic inspector Ted Sheegan. Less than fifteen minutes before the attack, Sheegan had been temporarily appointed captain. Keith remembered standing inside the police station. So close to the pair chatting on the street in front of the desk that he could literally follow their conversation. He had heard enough, or maybe too much. I’m going to say hello to her, he said to Tessa. And prevent Mrs. Sheegan from bumping into the mayor, he thought. Because