A Chain Reaction

By Arfer Apple

A police veteran with a laid-back attitude had to face the shooting of five children at a day care center.

A chain reaction of events leads to the investigation of people with their own dark secret in the world of crime, with casualties along the way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Mar 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514446454

Book preview

Copyright © 2016 by Arfer Apple.

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.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 04/12/2016

Xlibris

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CONTENTS

Chapter One   Despair

Chapter Two   The Search

Chapter Three   Endless Chatter

Chapter Four   Back to Normality?

Chapter Five   They Just Went Too Far

Chapter Six   The Rodent Gang

Chapter Seven   Too Close For Comfort

Chapter Eight   Nothing Ever Made Sense

Chapter Nine   The Net is Closing

Chapter Ten   That is Life!!

Author Biography

CHAPTER ONE

DESPAIR

I was woken up by my wife who crept into my bed smelling of brandy

Have you had a hard day at the emergency unit today my love?

How can you tell Johnny baby, give me a kiss good-by before you go off to work please she replied.

It was six pm and I have arrived at the regional headquarters only to be greeted by the sparkling desk sergeant.

Evening Falcony a certain Mary Meet has been waiting one hour for you, I do believe that she is your new side kick!!

I went over to introduce myself to Mary Meet.

Hi Mary I am John Falcony, it is nice to meet you, please follow me and I will introduce you to the rest of the team

Not a careless whisper was heard from her lips, but a nod and her facial expression told the story.

We arrived to a state of confusion in the office.

Hi Falcony, there has been a shooting at the Children’s Day Centre in town, several dead, and here is a message from the Watch Commander Patti Starns shouted Becky Peterson at me.

Ok Mary this is Senior Sergeant Becky Peterson, and here will be your desk and sorry the rest of the introduction’s to everybody else will just have to wait till later

Becky gave her a wave and then took off out of the office. I turn to another voice in my ear.

Hi Falcony here is an update, one adult and five children shot, suspect not on scene, watch commander is on sight and is waiting eagerly for your arrival

O thank you O Mary this is Patti Patten we call her Snowy she is the office manager

With a brief introduction I told Mary to follow me to the car park where we left for the Children’s Day Centre.

Mari Manakata and Glen Myers two other members of my team sat waiting for us in my wagon.

"Ok Glen let it go, by the way this is Mary our new sergeant, Mary this is Glen Myers your new side kick and the other smartly dressed lady in a rent a suit is Mari Manakana she is assistant to Becky Peterson who has gone ahead to the Children’s Day Care.

What an intro to the team is it always like this Glenn? asked Mary

Yes, it is no picnic working in regional crime homicide unit I can tell you that now replied Glen.

We arrived at the scene, the team changes would have been a compliment. The full team were there plus three ambulances waiting to remove the bodies, but I did think they had arrived a little late to help them this time

I left the car followed by Mary and Glen and Mari not far behind having a conversation with a uniform officer, I did notice behind her a familiar face charging towards me like an out of control dog it was inspector John Wheatley of the local homicide squad.

What the f are you doing here Falcony?

Mary was taken back by his outburst

Now this is going to be good Glen

You are so right Mari and we have got ring side seats to this event laughed Glen in reply.

O hello Johnny baby, got the bloody huff have we, well you better go over to talk to the Watch Commander Patti Starne’s because she had requested our presence here, well look there is Commander Starne’s so off you go like a good little boy I told him.

He started to shout at Pattie which was his first mistake because I heard her remind him in no uncertain terms who he was and who he was talking to. With that out of the way Patti made her way towards me.

Evening Mam, O I would like to introduce Mary meet our new sergeant in the team

Nice to meet you, Mary and best of luck, and please stay away from the ledge on a tall building, they have a habit of killing the sergeant in the Falcony team

I left her to go over and talk to Mark Woodward (Woody) the head of the forensic team.

Bit of a mess in there Falcony, a lot of blood and not a pretty sight come with me please Becky has most of the information that we have gathered so far

I took his advice and put on some plastic covers over my shoes and headed towards Becky who was having a melt down on her phone, before she came over to talk to me and Woody.

So the shooter comes into the reception then enters the play area after shooting the lady on reception and shoots all five children with the one in the far corner was shot in the back trying to run away.

I could see the distress in the face of a normal cool person of Becky Peterson and her bottom lip was giving way to her emotion. It was then that Becky had to answer her phone again and after the call she stood there motionless looking at me.

What’s up Becky what was that cool about?

We have another one, a mother and child shot both dead about two streets away, I am going there now, Woody I need you please" she shouted

Mary you with me, Glen and Mari, witness statements and what ever else you can put together please I told them

It was a three minute drive to this very large white house where uniform were already there. Becky was already talking to a smartly dressed man sitting on the door step looking very distraught and crying.

I followed Woody to the entrance of the kitchen after placing plastic covers on my shoes.

A young mother and son both shot at close range about eight to twelve hours I would say at a guess and what about a bottle of red wine on this one I am going to stick my neck out and say this is connected to the Child Care Centre Falcony whispered Woody in my ear.

I looked at a surprised Mary looking at Woody

"Does he always have these little bets with you sir? asked Mary.

Mary I hate to say it but he is seldom bloody wrong and he does like a drop of expensive red wine I joked

I walked over to Becky who was making her way toward’s me in the corridor of the house.

Ok boss the lady in there is Eliza Hampton and her son Tommy, the guy outside was Tom Hampton the husband and father who came home about thirty minutes ago to find this mess

I felt Becky was having a real bad day but being a trooper that she is and a main stay in my team I went over to give her a little cuddle.

You will not believe this but Tommy was suppose to be at that Child Centre, the wife normally drops him off at eight thirty and the picks him up at three o’clock I looked at Woody who had come to join us.

So she was killed with her son before the others at the Child Care Centre and looking around she must of known her killer because there is a electronic gate with C.C.T.V. and a security door in the main entrance which was unlocked and open when Tom Hampton arrived home Becky went on to tell us

I looked at Woody for an update from him.

The killer was bloody angry, he shot Eliza in the back of the head and I think she was running to save her son, where I think he must have shot him first, but between all that the killer put two bullets in her back and two into the kitchen door, he could have been panicking!!

Becky get Tom Hampton into an ambulance and have him taken to the hospital he needs to be treated for shock and maybe you could go with him, I see you have form a close relationship with him already.

I looked at Mary who did look a little overcome with the events in her first hour in her new position within the regional crime squad.

Mary I will call Glen to come up here if he is free to be with you to start some house to house interviews and try to put a much better picture on all this and it may even put us in the direction of the crime at the Child Day Centre

The only comment I got from Glen was how he is going to get up here without any transport to drive.

Listen you prick catch a lift or borrow a car Ok but I need you up here A.S.A.P Ok Glen baby!!

Problems boss asked Mary

No just Glen being his normal dick head with an attitude problem so when he does work with you kick his ass and keep him on a very short leash

I told Mary I would like her to join me back at the Child Care Centre and if Glen has not found transport she can drive him back up here.

We almost reached the bottom of the hill but we were almost side swiped by a large four-wheel drive with watch commander written on the side.

I looked to find Glen sitting in the drivers seat so I told Mary to get out and go back with Glen to start the interviews on the house to house Glen sat there not saying anything but had a cheeky smile on his face.

So you found a vechicle then and it was nice to Miss Patti Starns to lend it to you Glen

No problem boss, it was the only one with keys left in the ignition

I shouted Wanker to him when I drove off back down the road to the Child Care Centre

I arrived to find Mari handing me the sign in book for the Child Care Centre. She pointed out that the five children are always last to leave each day at the Child Care Centre.

"Ok we will need grief officers for all five set of parents of the dead children and one for the receptionist Sharone Stone please Mari.

I turn around to find Miss Patti Starns looking at me.

Guess what Falcony some idiot has stolen my car now can you believe it, I mean it has got watch commander written right across the bloody door Pattie told me in a temper

I just stood and shook my head and remained speechless, so she stormed off shouting into the night air with words you do not find used in a Child Care Centre. I picked up my mobile phone and called Glen.

"When you finish up there, take Mari back to the office and park the watch commander vehicle back into its spot in the car park, leave the keys in the ignition. There was a silence before Glen decided to let me know that he understood.

I looked at Mari with a tear in her eye showing her emotion to this series of events.

Ok boss the receptionist was a Sharone Stone who has worked here for around two years, loved by everybody, and has the title of assistant manager. She is engaged and was to be married next month.

I put my hand on Mari shoulder to show her my support I waited for Mari to catch a moment in her life before she gave me the names of the children

First child is Hanna Ellis daughter of Fred and Beata Ellis, second child Joe Venditto son of Harry and Jane Venditto, third is David McCarthy son of David and Sara McCarthy. It was then she took a moment to catch her breath again.

Ok fourth child was um Yvonne Swift daughter of Richard and Victoria Swift, fifth was a Terry a son of Terry and Chicquita Clarkson. With that Mari went out and borrowed a cigarette from a uniform officer and walked off to the car park

I looked at the book and found the name of Sofia Cross a daughter of Neil Cross who must have picked up his daughter just minutes before the shooting. I made my way over to Mari to give her some support when Becky showed up in a uniform car.

That Tom Hampton is going to stay in overnight so I thought I might be of better use here Falcony.

Yes we need to go and see a Neil Cross, he was here a short while before the shootings happen

It’s pretty late boss Becky told me.

Bollocks we are on a multi murder case and the whole bloody world better be prepared to be visited by us if need be Ok Becky

Yes boss I do understand; shall I drive?

Ok Becky. Here is the address, I will pump it into the navigation console.

We arrived at the cross residence after a fifteen minute journey. A high fence surrounded the property and I could hear a dog barking at us when we approach the security door with the intercom.

I notice the camera move when we raised our badges towards it.

It’s the police we need to talk to a Neil Cross

After a lot of shouting the dog stop barking and the gate open we went inside to the front door where we met a lady a little out of breath.

O I am Pat Cross, Neil is upstairs, O this is slug our German Shepherd he is harmless really all bark and no bite I have to tell you.

I walked behind the lady of the house with the dog sniffing my private parts before he turned his attention towards Becky. We ended up in a very large lounge and was told to sit down, when Pat Cross sent the dog outside to the garden to continue barking.

O this is Senior Sergeant Becky Peterson and I am Inspector John Falcony of the major crime squad.

Just then Neil Cross appeared looking a little surprise to see us.

There was an incident at the Child Care Centre and I was wondering if you could help us in our investigation sir

It is a fing dump to say the least I want my daughter out of there as soon as possible, it has been a bloody headache having her there

O Neil take’s her there at eight o’clock in the morning and picks her up around four thirty or so in the afternoon, replied Pat Cross.

So you never take her to the Child Car Centre yourself then Mrs Pat Cross? I asked her

O no I never leave this house for any reason not even to shop we have it home delivered and I shop on line anyway

With that Pat Cross suddenly jump up and went out to the garden to belt the dog, I heard a yelp and got a smile on the face of Neil Cross

Anyway did you see Sharone Stone today and did you talk to her in length? Becky asked him.

She is the bitch of bitch’s and all I did was bang on the locked front door, and she told me to just ring the bell, all the banging was frightening the children, the bloody mouthy bitch!!

All through the conversation with him he kept looking up at the ceiling fan slowly moving around.

A slut with those long legs and always showing her tits at the reception desk, she should be a bloody pole dancer not a receptionist at a Child Care Centre

I looked at him and thought that my team and I were having a bad day.

You see our Sofia had been bullied in the bloody care centre and that Sharone had done nothing about it

I looked at him and deep down I wanted to go over a punch his lights out to bring him back to normality.

I looked at Becky and thought great mind’s think a like.

So what happen somebody steal some jelly babies out of the jar at the reception counter today? asked Neil Cross with a smirk on his face just when his wife Pat joined us again.

No sir, Mam if I may inform you that Sharone Stone was shot dead this late afternoon and also five children also dead.

Pat Cross broke down but Neil Cross showed little pity for her action, instead he told her to pull herself together she had never ever been to the Child Care Centre.

Becky looked at me and shook her head to the shameful manner that Neil Cross had adopted in this moment of time.

I looked at Neil Cross and he just nodded in agreement.

Gee the shooting must of happen soon after I left with dear sweet Sophia today Neil said

That is right sir, did you notice anybody hanging around the place or did it look normal to you"?

What do you mean normal that Child Care Centre could never be normal in a thousand years Neil laughed back at me.

O my husband works for Tom Hampton whispered Pat Cross to us.

At once Becky found a bone to bite on to with that answer.

So Neil you do work for Tom Hampton then?

Well my wife just said I did didn’t she!!

I thought it would be better to punch this guy in the head now before I take out my gun and blow his brains out.

Yes I am Tom Hampton accountant I look the accounts for him to keep him wealthy

Do you have much contact with him outside work? I asked him

No bloody way he is a pain in the ass at the best of times so I do not want to socialize with him outside work he is a bloody nymphomanic screwing any woman he can get his hands on

Anyway enough of that nasty rumour was little Tommy one of the children shot, I am sorry but all this is playing on my mind whispered Pat in a childish manner.

No he was shot with his mother at their home, it did not make it to the Child Care Centre today, poor Tom her husband discovered the bodies

O Neil you must phone Tom to see if he does need some support shouted Pat at him

With that Neil jump up and made his way out to the garden to inform the dog that his life expectancy is under review I had enough of this atmosphere so we left and headed back to the office.

Warm cocoa and fried egg sandwiches was prepared by Snowy. We all sat around a large table in the office next to our coffee machine with smiles on our faces

So we will have this little snack and then all go home and return to day shift around nine o’clock that’s fine right.

I thought it was nice that Mary had settled in to the team when she asked the question.

So what did happen to the last sergeant and the comment from the watch commander to keep away from the ledge of a tall building?

I looked at Becky for some support because she knew I still had issues about the matter.

There was a warrant for a Torban Peterson in connection with the death of a local prostitute.

Becky took a deep breath and a sip of cocoa.

We had a tip off and we made the raid at the Golden Sands Hotel down on the seafront, the Falcon was down stairs, I went upstairs with David Pinter and did the heavy work with four uniform as back up

I will finish here now Becky, anyway in a nut shell we invaded the making of a porn movie and Torban had bolted already the only problem was that the woman who was being gang bang was made the wife of David Pinter

I took a deep breath and a sip of the remains of my cocoa.

Becky thought that David was going after Torban when he went out to the balcony, but instead just climb up on the ledge and jumped off, from fifteen floors up he landed about twenty feet in front of me I said.

Listen I think we should all go home now sorry Mary it is a very sore point within our team.

With that we all went our separate ways.

In the midnight news there was only a report about the Child Care shooting not one word about Eliza Hampton and her son Tommy. I had a shower and then went to bed to be woken by my wife with some toasted raisin bread and fresh brewed coffee.

On arrival back at work, I got the team together for an update on what we have discovered about the killings last night I did tell Becky that we needed to talk to a Donna Spencer the manager of the Child Care Centre. I told Glenn to go back with Mary to go for an update on any residence who live near the Hampton property.

Becky came over to say that she had already made contact with Donna Spencer and was expecting us in the next hour.

We drove out to the home of Donna Spencer and followed her out to her garden where we sat down to enjoy the early morning breeze.

I could see she was distressed and had been passing tears with the look of her puffy eyes that were red in colour.

Sorry it’s been tough, I changed the shift because it was my mother’s birthday and Donna Spencer was pleased to make the change, just to think that I could be there in a pool of blood except my very close friend Donna.

I changed the subject to Neil Cross and the expression changed at the same time with my question about him.

He is a bloody idiot, always finding something wrong with those arguments about his daughter being bullied I ask the beautiful little girl Sofia about this and she told me she had no idea what was going on, she was in fact happy there and got on well with all other children.

So the relationship is a little stretched between Neil Cross and you asked Becky.

He is bloody nuts, we are the fifth Child Care Centre that poor little Sophie had been to in eighteen months

Did you check up with the other centre’s before excepting her? I asked Debbie.

Of course, all centre’s are very close, a problem child can disrupt the whole group so after finding out her journey I made a few phone calls

So you have never met the mother Pat Cross then?

O her she does phone, well if I told you at least four times a day to check up on Sophia, which drive’s me bloody mad some days.

There was a knock on the door and Donnie went to answer it. I found it was Yvonne Starre from the support division an old friend of Becky and myself.

We left Yvonne to do her job. We took the coastal road back into town and I noticed a cruise ship out on the bay it gave me an idea to take my wife Bronti on one of those trips one day.

We arrived back at the Hampton house to find Mary standing in the garden. She did reveal that the Hampton’s had very little contact with the neighbours apart from a little wave. I walked