Badge 11

By Dolores Durst

Loosely based from Doloress childhood hometown of Niles with a cop for a father comes this short mystery. A small town where no one locks their doors at night is turned upside down when, all of a sudden, all the local businesses begin getting broken into, and the safes are all emptied out. It takes a surprising twist to begin to unravel a whirlwind of an operation. Did they bite off more than they were ready to chew?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499068030

Book preview

Chapter One

T he weekend was over, and now to start a new day into another week. It was a dark, dreary, rainy day to start working. I bumped into my desk, knocking something off. I reached over my desk to lift it up. It was my nameplate: John Donlovsky, Capt. I loved my job, but there are times I had too many problems. But just when I thought the going was too tough, I always pulled my same old trick of leaning back in my chair, taking a deep breath, then getting right back into thinking about the next move to solve another problem. I glanced at the clock and noticed it was almost time for the day shift to s tart.

There were two new guys starting today, Glenn Morrison and Dave Copeland. Dave had two years of experience, and Glenn had three years. According to their applications, they both were very good at passing all the degrees of testing of all the courses. The part I always hated was talking to the new patrol officers and watching over them carefully. Waiting two weeks and then talking to the other men about how they are doing their jobs.

I noticed Walt Kennedy walking past my office; he clocked in, and I waved for him to come in. I introduced the two men and also gave him the meter keys. We all talked for a few minutes and then each man went his own way.

Around three p.m., I was getting myself a cup of coffee when my phone rang. I answered it. Hello. Are you sure? Don’t talk to anyone. I paused for a moment and said, Come to work early in the morning and we will talk then. Say nothing to no one. I sat down and hung up the phone, wondering what was going on.

The next day I was at work early, had some coffee, and sorted some papers, keeping my eye on the clock. Walt was late, I thought. So I dialed Walt’s number and there wasn’t any answer, so I dialed Ray’s phone number. After a few rings, his wife answered, No, John, Ray isn’t home right now. I will have him call you when he gets home.

Day shift was starting to arrive. I studied the group, thinking and wondering: which patrolman could I really trust? I took time and finally decided I should go down the list and watch what I say to each man I talk with.

By the end of the day, Walt still had not come in, and I can’t figure out what happened.

Glenn got home from work, and lying beside the garage next door was a man’s body. Glenn took out his gun and started walking slowly toward the body. Glenn leaned down to turn the man over to find out it was Walt Kennedy! Glenn ran into the house and called John, and then he called an ambulance. It didn’t take long for the paramedics and John to get there. They got Walt into the ambulance and whisked him off to the hospital. Glenn and John stayed, looking over the grounds for anything that would tell us what happened. We really weren’t sure what we were looking for. The only thing we had was that Walt had a very large bump on his head. That was it. There weren’t any footprints or tire tracks. Nothing! It was like a ghost was here.

We need to talk to Walt, I thought. I met Glenn at the hospital. We checked his articles from his pockets—pen, billfold, hankie, gun, and car keys. I said to Glenn, Here are Walt’s car keys. Where is his car? And where are the meter keys?

Walt, do you remember anything at all? What happened to you?

The only thing I remember is two guys talking. Their voices were muffled. I couldn’t see their faces. The lights from a car were shining in my face. Heard jingling, saw a shadow on the wall… two tall men. I moved and they hit me again. That’s it.

Glenn and I left the room. I scratched my head and turned to Glenn and said, Let’s go back and see if we overlooked something where we found Walt.

The empty house looked the same as it did since the FOR SALE sign went up. We looked in all the windows and all around the rest of the yard and still came up with nothing. Glenn said, Maybe we should look around in the neighborhood for Walt’s car.

Glenn, what time is it? I asked.

Glenn looked at his watch, then at John, and said, It’s nine pm.!

I replied, It’s late. We will do this in the morning.

I stopped in at the station on my way home and left a note on Sergeant Nagy’s desk. Bob, would you ask Dave Copeland and Roger Wilson to stop and see me. I would also like Glenn Morrison to come with them. Thanks, John.

Standing there with coffee in hand, ready to clock in, I noticed the meter keys hanging in their place. Hmm. That’s interesting, I thought. Hearing the men coming in, I turned and said to Dave and Roger, I want you two to go out and find Walt’s car. Check everywhere for it. Put some miles on your shoes while you look! Don’t miss wooded areas and empty garages. If you find the car, call in your report. Do not leave the car unattended.

Dave and Roger left, and I closed the door behind them. I looked over at Glenn and said, Look out the window and tell me what you see.

The keys! Glenn exclaimed.

I nodded and said, Something very odd is going on here. It looks like you and I have a big job on our hands.

Chapter Two

J ohn sat at his desk, hoping Walt’s car