ECHOS

By Samuel Jimenez

Troubled by his past, a small city detective must solve a murder on the anniversary of his wife's death. Things begin to unravel when a girl who has been following him shows up dead and a mysterious caller threatens his understanding. He will have to rely on the little fri

• Language: English
• Publisher: Samuel Jimenez
• Release date: Jan 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088078976

Book preview

ECHOS

Samuel Jimenez

First Edition published by 2021

Copyright © 2023 by Samuel Jimenez

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Samuel Jimenez asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

First Edition

For M, thank you for always pushing me to do better.

Chapter 1

one

Chapter 1

What the hell just happened?

Somehow, I found myself on the floor of my apartment with the most intense headache I'd had since college.

Last thing I remembered… I was walking into my apartment with… oh wait, who was I with? I somehow couldn't remember who, but I was definitely with someone when I suddenly heard a noise coming from my kitchen. Before I was able to check what it was... it was lights out.

Damn, my head.

Suddenly I felt a warm liquid running down the side of my cheek. I carefully ran my hand across my face since I figured someone just knocked

the sense out of me, and… Yup … I’m bleeding. I started to wonder what got me into this situation when I heard a loud knock coming from my front door.

This is Stonehill Police, open the door and surrender quietly… demanded a voice from outside.

Now, who the fuck is that? I thought to myself. 

John, John… are you okay? yelled another voice. 

Is that Beth? Beth, what the hell is going on? Why are you knocking on my door like that? It’s too early for this shit, I yelled while clumsily getting off the floor.

Beth Wilkens was a good cop, but she had a weird sense of humor. I guess all those years growing up outside the city messed her up. Always making weird jokes, like she needed to fit in or something. One look at her and you could tell she was not from around here, not from around anywhere really.

John, the city detection system reported gunshots coming from your apartment. Are you okay? Are you alone? Beth asked.

Beth shut the hell up. Of course, he is alone. He is always alone; he finally snapped, and I am bringing him in, and in a body bag if I goddamn have to, said a second voice.

Is that Stevens with you, Beth? I yelled, hoping the answer would be no.

Yeah, buddy… it’s me. Why don’t you come out so we can talk, he demanded.

Fuck you, Stevens… wait… gunshots? What gunshots? What are you talking about, Beth?

It took me a few minutes to notice the body on the bed. Brunette with long legs and a tattoo that ran from her right ankle wrapping around the side of her leg all the way to her shoulder. I can’t fully make it out, maybe some sort of bird I think, looks recent though. Beautiful girl, at least she was before the three bullet holes in her chest. That must be the gunshots Beth was talking about.

John, come on buddy. We don’t have all day; come out and talk to us. Oh yeah, and do me a favor, leave your gun on the table for me, Stevens shouted.

Stevens is what we call a genetically enhanced rich asshole. His parents were rich enough to have been able to pay for a few enhancements. Genome Editing has come a long way; rich parents are able to choose what attributes to enhance their babies with prior to birth. Stevens was born stronger, faster, and able to retain memory much more efficiently, making him the new breed of detectives. Yeah, I guess hate was a good word… I hated the guy.

Hey Stevens, I said fuck off or was it fuck you. I can’t remember… just give me a second.

Staggering to the bed, I had a hard time remembering what happened last night. It was all a blur, and I couldn’t remember a thing.

Think, John… could you have done this? Is this the reason why you are bleeding? No, no way, I wouldn’t do this… would I? Okay, calm down, this is not your first crime scene. I stared at the brunette. I didn’t recognize her. Not my type, but hey, with a few drinks in me, who knows? Crap focus, focus.

I needed to check her body for evidence, no bruises on her hands, her nails are clean, no sign of struggle, no purse or bag that I could see, and the bed was made. She did not sleep here. I guessed it was just the tattoo to go by then.

Okay John, keep thinking… my gun! I ran quickly to the spot on the floor where I woke up, hoping that my gun was full. Four bullets missing… Shit, that does not look good. Just as I started to think about the deep amount of trouble I was in, I felt a strong vibration coming from my front pocket. Puzzled and with hesitation, I reached in. The phone! I thought. As I stared blankly at the phone it continued to vibrate, a private number.

Hello… I answered cautiously.

Hello sir, we are calling regarding your Internet service, do you have a few minutes to talk about your monthly bill? said the voice over the phone.

Stupid telemarketers, I thought.

No, you piece of shit, I don’t have a few minutes… I said, hearing the line cut out right after.

Did he just hang up on me? Well, I’ll be damned.

Suddenly the vibration started again… private number again.

Listen up you piece of ancient cat shit, I said with as much emphasis on the word shit as possible.

What’s wrong, John? said the oddly familiar voice.

Is the blow to your head making you a little angry, or is it the dead body that’s laying on your bed… Pretty, isn’t she? I know, I know, not your type right, but hey, with a few drinks am I right, or am I right?

Who the hell is this? How do you— before I could finish my sentence, the voice interrupted me.

All in due time, my friend. Right now you have about one minute to decide what you are going to do, let that subhuman Stevens take you in for murder, or get out through the window. Ticktock, John, ticktock.

I stayed silent for a few seconds, wondering who it was on the other side of the line. Was it someone I knew, maybe a pissed-off asshole I put away at some point? But before I answered, I heard Beth yelling.

John, what’s going on? Please open the door. I know it’s been a rough couple of weeks. I want to help you, John. Let’s talk.

I could always tell when Beth was worried. Her voice would go really soft as if she was talking to a frightened child. It always had a way of calming me; she was good at that.

John, you have ten seconds to come out, Stevens said with his high-pitched prick of a voice.

Hey, John, said the voice from the phone. You do have another choice, you know.

Oh yeah, and what is that? I said, trying to sound as calm as I could, knowing that Stevens was outside ready to come in and put two hot ones through my chest.

You still have bullets in your gun, John. What’s it going to be?

Chapter 2

two

Chapter 2

I t was a Tuesday when the first body was found, the seven-year anniversary marking

the end of the great war.

I was sitting at a diner downtown at the time. The diner was called Elroy’s, and they made a very good cup of coffee. It was a cop hangout for the most part. I figured it had to be since it was right next to the precinct. It was a small, hushed place; I guess that’s why I liked it so much.

Good morning! Beth said cheerfully as she approached the table.

What’s so good about it? I asked.

John, it’s the seven-year anniversary! 

Oh, yeah right, I said sarcastically.

Beth had been my partner for several years now. A smart girl, well-educated, and cheerful as hell. Bothered the crap out of me. She was a few years younger than I was, and she'd become a very good friend to me.

Turning to her, I followed her gaze. She was looking at her comm-link.

A comm from the office, Beth said.

Rolling my eyes, I was hoping this would be a calm day, but of course, I hadn’t had a calm day in years.

What's wrong? I asked. Answer that; it might be important.

Yeah, I am, it’s just that well… I’m sorry, John, I forgot that today was also the anniversary of your wife’s death.

I smiled at her; I couldn’t blame her for forgetting that four years ago today I found my wife dead, in the bed of another man. It’s not like I talked about it much.

It's okay, Beth, don’t worry about it.

As Beth answered the comm, I got up and started walking towards the door. I did not want to hear what the Captain had to say, pretty sure it was about a dead body being found somewhere.

Today of all days, I thought. I turned to look out the window, still hoping to have a nice quiet day.

That’s when I first saw her, the girl in the gray hoodie. At the time, I did not think about it too much aside from the fact that she was staring right at me, motionless with deep brown eyes and a pretty face. I began to move toward the door; I couldn’t help but feel as if her eyes were following me like those creepy paintings you always find in museums or haunted houses.

I walked through the doors of the diner when I heard Beth's voice yell out to me.

John, John, you forgot to pay for your coffee!

I turned to her, still puzzled by what I had just seen.

What…? I asked, turning my gaze quickly to see if the girl was still there.

She was gone. 

Where the hell did she go? There’s no way she vanished that quickly, and why the fuck was she staring at me like that.

Damn it, you owe me five dollars, Beth said. The hell is wrong with you?

I didn’t respond. I didn’t even tell her about the girl in the gray hoodie. Instead, I just stared blankly at the spot across the street where she stood, wondering if she was even real.

Are you okay, John? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost or something.

What? No, you're crazy, I responded.

"Okay, well let’s go then. The Captain said she needs us to head to the abandoned firehouse

just outside of town. Looks like a suicide or something."

We walked towards the car. I could tell she was still feeling bad about forgetting what happened to me four years ago, but she didn’t say a word, just gave me a funny look.

I ’m fine, I said while avoiding her eyes. No time for pity right now. It was a long time ago. I am pretty much over it. I just hope I catch the son of a bitch one day, you know?

Me too, John, me too, Beth said softly.

It took longer than usual for us to reach the outskirts of town. So many people were outside celebrating the end of the biggest war we’d seen since World War Two. Many of the nations involved no longer existed; the US joined with Central and South America to form The United American Front or UAF. Many people hated the new name; I couldn’t have cared less.

The European continent was pretty much one big mess. They had all joined together, but it was hard to tell who was really in charge. Most of Japan, Australia, and a few other Asian islands no longer existed, with most of its population migrating to the UAF.

Stonehill City was small compared to major cities like New York and Los Angeles, and although we were only a few hours north of New York, the people here were not city folk.

Approaching the firehouse, there were already about a dozen cop cars there. It was odd. I had never seen such a big response to a suicide. It was either a very important person or something no one had seen before.

The firehouse closed a few years back. It had the lowest response number in the city, and since it was right outside the city, the city made the economic decision to close it.

Damn, it looks like the entire division is here, Beth said. I haven’t seen so many cops in one area since that bomb threat at city hall.

Yeah, you're right, I said. I wonder what’s so special about this suicide.

I spotted Sophie outside the building, the best Forensic Specialist on the East Coast.

Sophie was a petite blond, with glasses from somewhere in the Caribbean. She has that… come over and talk to me look about her, but growing up in a major city south of here made

her tough and straightforward. She didn't take shit from anyone.

Hey, John, you look like shit? Sophie said.

Looking at her in surprise, I couldn’t tell if she was joking or being serious. She never pulled her punches with me. Why would she? I wouldn’t let her anyway.

Well good morning to you too, I said. Have you been in there yet? What are we looking at?

Yes… Sophie said. This is a weird one. Stevens is in there now; he’ll give you the rundown.

That man is always trying to take our cases. What is the deal with him? Beth said while storming inside the building. Come on, hurry up. There is no way I’m going to let him take this case, not again.

Stevens and I didn’t get along so well, not since I slept with his wife. Even though they were separated at the time, in his mind, I guess he never let her go. In my defense, I had no idea who she was