Spiral

By GA Howie

Cpl Jake North was still getting used to finally being at his dream job; an investigator with DFIS (Defence Force Investigative Service). Now here he was sitting next to his boss on their way to a job.

Jake is immediately met with two missing soldiers, some missing explosives and brain matter spattered on the rear of the cabin behind the d

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trenwick House Publishing
• Release date: May 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9780992351472

Book preview

1

1.1

The distinctly marked military truck turned the corner of the warehouse and drove along the well-lit dock to where several military personnel were waiting. The driver followed orders and reversed the truck until directed to stop. Two soldiers got out, walked to the rear, opened the door and stood waiting.

An officer approached the two soldiers.

‘Lance Corporal Cullen and 2nd Lieutenant Smithson to collect the shipment, sir.’

‘Papers, 2nd Lieutenant,’ replied the receiving officer.

Smithson pulled a card from his pocket and handed it to the officer. The officer placed it in the reader in his hand, pressed his right thumb on the screen, waited for the beep and handed it to the lance corporal to do the same. The screen faded and turned green, the officer handed it to an aide and the officer looked up. The aide walked away and began giving orders.

‘Cullen, Smithson.’ The officer nodded once. ‘It won’t take long to load. Do you have an escort?’

‘No, sir. Our C.O. thought it’d be quiet enough,’ replied Cullen.

‘Very well. It’s a dark enough night.’

‘The trip should be quick, considering the cargo.’

The three men stepped to one side as a trolley was wheeled to the back of the truck and four soldiers began to load the barrels of D6.

Jacobus looked on in wonder.

‘What’s so exciting, kid?’

‘I’ve never been around this much explosive before.’

‘Then I hope you drive better going back than getting here,’ said Damian, smiling.

‘Was the road rough coming down?’ asked the officer.

‘No, it wasn’t,’ replied Jacob. ‘With respect, Sir, I’m the best damned driver on the base!’

‘Yes, he is,’ said Damian.

‘Not even you’ve beaten me, Sir,’ said Jacob.

Damian laughed.

The aide appeared at the officer’s side and handed him the reader.

‘Looks like we’re done here. I just need your thumb once more, Damian, and you can depart.’

He obliged and climbed into the truck, where Jacob was waiting to drive the shipment back to base.

Once they’d left the warehouse precinct, Jacob drove cautiously through the back streets of Williamstown.

‘You don’t have to be that much of a namby-pamby driver,’ said Damian, smiling.

‘Shut it, Sir. I’ve never driven 750kgs of D6 before. Who wants this much explosive anyway?’

‘It’s the annual supply order and we’ve drawn the short straws for pickup.’

‘Great, thanks.’

They left Williamstown and continued along the back roads to their home base in Laverton. They turned a corner on the edge of an industrial estate to see a broken-down vehicle blocking their way. As they got closer, they could see the bonnet up and in the vehicle’s dim lights, they could see steam.

‘What do you reckon, Jacob?’ said Damian.

‘Our orders are not to stop but bring the supply immediately back to base.’

‘Indeed they are. However ...’

‘However, they are blocking our way, so we should either render help,’ said Jacob, ‘Or turn around and find another way around. If the stranger is in trouble, we should at least see what’s happening. It is one in the morning, after all.’

‘Agreed.’

‘What if it’s an emergency?’

‘I agree, we can’t leave them, but we can’t delay either,’ said Damian. ‘Do you have a suggestion?’

‘We can stop; see what’s the matter; call back to the base for assistance and keep going. Maximum stop, five minutes.’

‘I can handle that.’

‘I’ll keep the truck running, and I’ll keep you covered,’ said Jacob. ‘You go and see what’s happening.’

‘You’re the junior, you’re going to see what’s happening. I’ll jump into the driver’s seat.’

Jacob nodded, parked the truck about ten metres from the broken-down vehicle, and activated hi-beam to illuminate the scene. He climbed down, gun at the ready. ‘Is everything all right here?’

There was no reply.

Jacob moved closer and approached along the far side of the vehicle. As he moved into the shadow of the raised hood, this blocked him from Damian’s sight. Jacob saw a figure in black bending over the steaming engine.

‘Is everything alright?’ asked Jacob as he came around to the front of the car, his gun at the ready.

The figure stood and fired a single, silenced shot at Jacob.

Damian heard the pop and raced from the cabin of the truck. Nervous, he approached the front of the stricken vehicle along the side facing the truck.

‘Hey, Jacob, you okay?’

There was no response.

He stepped around to front and saw Jacob’s legs on the ground. Rushing to his side, he knelt beside his dead body.

‘Shit.’

Damian then froze as he felt cold steel pressing against the back of his neck.

‘Drop the rifle.’

Damian moved slowly. With the handgun now at his temple, he was directed to the rear of the truck.

‘Open it!’

Damian fumbled.

‘Now!’

Damian swiped his card, and then pressed his shaking thumb to the lock. It glowed red and didn’t open.

‘Calm down and try again!’

Damian looked at the person behind him, turned back, controlled his breathing and swiped the card again. This time his hand was steadier and after pressing his thumb to the pad, the lock clicked open. Damian removed the lock and opened the doors.

‘Climb in.’

Damian climbed in, the figure closely behind. Damian was forced to open one of the drums and remove one of the five-kilogram bags of D6. After the drum was re-sealed, the figure climbed down. He had Damian pass him the bag, which was placed on the ground. Damian was ordered to get out and as he did, he faked a fall and tried to tackle the figure. Moving quicker than anticipated, Damian found himself at the end of several kicks to various parts of his body and was sprawled on the ground panting and in pain.

Damian was forced to his feet clutching his ribs. In pain, he was made to reseal the truck. He was then told to get back into the cabin. He sat and turned to face his attacker.

‘Give me the keys!’

Damian leant forward slightly, removed the keys and handed them over. As he looked up, he was shot between the eyes. The bullet passed through his brain, spreading a good deal of it onto the driver’s seat and the window behind it.

Damian’s body was dragged from the truck and placed in the back of the dark vehicle. His weapons and comms were removed before being wrapped in a heavy black plastic sheet. Next, the equally dead and disarmed body of Cullen was loaded into the back of the vehicle. The bullet used to dispatch Damian was located and removed from the back of the military truck’s cabin. The keys were placed in Damian’s pocket. The hood of the stranded vehicle was closed, and it silently and darkly drove away.

Thirty minutes later, as the first hint of a sunrise glowed on the horizon, the vehicle approached the rear of a warehouse and was driven down a ramp to a sub-basement. The figure placed a mask over its face, then the plastic bags containing the bodies of the dead soldiers were placed into two separate drums. Into each drum a green liquid was poured. As the plastic was exposed to the liquid, an acrid smoke began to drift into the sub-basement. A switch was activated on one wall, which started up the exhaust fans. The D6 was secured in a locker on another wall.

As the drums sat stewing in their liquid, heavy trucks began their daily, and very noisy, work schedule at the concrete plant opposite the warehouse. The drums were hauled across the warehouse and placed next to a press. The drums were inspected and when passed as satisfactory, a heavy disk was fitted neatly into the top. The first drum was placed on the press’ base plate and the controls activated. The heavy plate was lowered and crushed its contents. The contents of the second drum were similarly crushed. When complete, the drums were sealed and loaded onto the back of a small, matte-black utility and covered with a tarpaulin. The mask was removed and thrown into a nearby bin.

A door in the far left corner opened and closed.

1.2

Corporal Jake North parked his car, smoothed over his new uniform and placed the cap on his head. He greeted other officers as he walked up the steps of the year-old offices of the Defence Force Investigative Service (DFIS). He stopped for a moment, let the others past, smiled and walked inside.

He was directed to level four where he found his desk; neat, clean and sparse. It was just on 0800 when the announcement was made for all staff to meet in the lecture theatre on level 1.

Jake walked into the room with one hundred or so others working in the DFIS office. He took a seat near the front and had his tablet ready. He turned sharply when he heard a woman’s voice begin to address the room as she walked down the side aisle.

‘Morning all,’ she said. ‘No need to stand. Most of you already know that, but the newbies won’t. We’re military through and through, but we’re not that formal here.’ She stood behind the podium, placed her tablet and pressed a few buttons. She looked over her shoulder to see the screen begin to light up. ‘Very good. Welcome to everyone this morning. This will be brief as we have a lot to do. Firstly, I’d like to welcome the new recruits to DFIS. Yes, yes, stand up.’

Jake stood nervously and acknowledged those around him.

‘For you newbies, I’m LCmdr. Linda Barrow. Most call me Linda, but when the occasion arises, Ma’am will suffice,’ she continued. ‘This is the first of the major re-assignments to happen before independence this November. In a couple of months, the various divisions of the Victorian and Tasmanian Police forces will begin to integrate.’ She held up her hand as soon as she’d made her statement. ‘I am fully aware that not everyone is agreeable to these wholesale changes. Never before have military and domestic police been integrated in such a way. I am a personal friend of President-elect Wordsworth and believe me when I say that we held many strong and robust discussions and arguments over this issue. In the end, I could see the value of pooling resources. It will be cost saving and it will allow us to gain valuable technology and personnel. I have already fielded many questions from you and I’m sure I will field many more. However, I want you all to know this; if I hear of any outright abuse of conduct towards any new colleague, military or police, you will have to deal with me personally. I can assure you now, you will not want that. Now for business. Every new recruit will be assigned to an existing case. You will have to learn on the run. 2ndLt Castle will assign you newbies a case. Hell, even I have to go out and get my hands dirty.’ Everyone laughed. ‘You oldies, be patient with the newbies. They will learn and may even be able to offer suggestions. Let’s get to it.’

Linda walked away from the podium and 2ndLt David Castle stepped up.

‘Your assignments are posted on the noticeboards in the incident rooms on levels three and four.’

Everyone rose to leave. Jake put his tablet in his bag and stepped into the central aisle.

‘North,’ said David.

Jake turned as he saw the second lieutenant approach him. ‘Sir?’

‘You’ll be with me. We’ve had a report placed by Williams Defence Force Base at Laverton. It seems some of their soldiers are missing. They’ve located the truck they were using last night but no drivers. They reckon they’ve found blood on the driver’s seat. Grab a camera and field kit and meet me in the garage in fifteen minutes.’

‘Yes, sir,’ replied Jake. He headed swiftly for his desk, grabbed his new digital camera, found out where kits could be collected from and rushed into the garage.

‘North, over here.’ Jake turned and saw David at a window. He turned and walked away with a set of keys in his hand. ‘Stow your gear and climb in. I’ll drive.’

They headed out of the underground garage and turned onto the main road.

‘There should be a copy of the preliminary report on your tablet. Have a look at it and give me your thoughts,’ said David, glancing over to Jake.

Jake accessed the file and began to read;

Date: Wednesday, January 8

Time: 0730

Location: Laverton

Details: 2ndLt. Damian Smithson and L. Cpl Jacobus Cullen were on a return trip to the Williamstown delivery centre with a shipment of 750kgs of D6. Due to arrive back at base at around 0500, they still had not returned by 0600. An extensive search was conducted and at approximately 0700, the empty truck was located. Neither soldier was with the truck and blood was noticed on the back of the driver’s seat. The rear of the truck appears to be unopened. DFIS have been notified.

‘That’s pretty short,’ said Jake, putting his tablet back in his bag. ‘Also, they’re MPs from Williams, not regular soldiers. I worked with them both. Without sounding dramatic, this is almost personal.’

‘No need to waffle on,’ replied David. ‘How well did you know them?’

‘I was at Williams for only a couple of years, but it was a roller coaster. I actually got on well enough with Smithson and Cullen.’

‘One step at a time, kid. Also, you’ll have to learn to keep emotions out of these events. For the most part it’s good but when it comes to someone you know, it’s a lot harder. Do you want me to take you back to base?’

‘No sir, I will be able to do what we came to do,’ said Jake. ‘How long before we arrive?’

‘According to the NAV, it should be another fifteen minutes.’

‘What do you want me to do when we get there?’ asked Jake.

‘Start by photographing everything, especially the alleged blood. Look for any anomalies with the truck. I’ll start dusting.’

Jake nodded.

You’re quiet?’ asked David, after ten minutes of silent travel. ‘Everything okay?’

‘It’s fine, Sir. Thinking about the missing men.’

‘You can call me David. We’re a little less formal in DFIS. It makes for a better and more productive environment. So, what’s up?’

‘I wasn’t expecting to be in the field quite so quickly,’ said Jake.

‘Understandable. It’s usually a few days, or even weeks, of case assimilation before that happens. However, in your case, I thought it best.’

‘In my case?’ Jake asked guardedly.

‘Nothing’s wrong. Quite the opposite,’ responded David. ‘Your application was very impressive and even though you’re not supposed to know this, you scored the highest entry mark since the inception of DFIS.’

Jake blushed and looked out the window. David laughed.

‘I want to see if you’re as good as you say you are.’

Jake turned sharply, slightly surprised. ‘I’ll do my best.’

‘I’d expect nothing less.’

They turned a corner and spied the truck ahead. A lone MP guarding it. David pulled their car to a halt and they got out. Jake retrieved the camera and kit from the back and walked up beside David.

‘Well, well, well,’ said the guard. ‘If it isn’t the goody-two shoes L.Cpl. Jake North. Fancy meeting you here.’

Jake looked and smiled wryly. ‘That’s Crpl Jake North, thanks.’

The guard snapped to attention and saluted.

Jake returned the salute. ‘You can relax, Harrison,’ said Jake and then he turned to David. ‘LtCpl. Will Harrison and I used to work together in the MPs at Williams before I transferred.’

Great, Jake thought. Here I was thinking I’d moved on from having to deal with Harrison.

‘Then why the remark about your rank then?’ asked David.

Jake shifted nervously. ‘For as long I was at Williams, my rank was always lower. I only ranked equal to him just before I left, but that didn’t stop him using length of service to cause me grief.’

David stepped in front of Harrison, who was still standing at attention. Harrison looked steadfastly forward.

‘LtCpl?’

‘Yes, sir?’

‘Is this true?’

Harrison remained quiet.

‘Very well, I understand,’ said David.

David stepped away and to the side.

‘At ease soldier,’ responded David. ‘What can you tell me, Harrison?’

‘When the truck hadn’t returned thirty minutes after their scheduled time, we attempted contact with no reply. When that failed, our Captain sent two of us out to look for the truck. After searching for a while, we found it here. I and another soldier inspected the vehicle. There was no sign of the two soldiers, 2ndLt. Damian Smithson and L.Cpl Jacobus Cullen. We checked the truck to find the driver’s window open, the keys missing and what appears to be blood on the headrest. There was no blood on the ground and, whilst we haven’t checked, the rear doors do not appear to have been opened. We filed the report with DFIS and have done nothing since.’

‘Very good, Harrison,’ said David. ‘We’ll take it from here.’

‘Yes, Sir,’ saluted Will and stepped back.

‘Okay, Jake, get started.’

Jake nodded and began to take photographs of the truck, its proximity to the road, the driver’s side door, seat, blood spatter and rear door. He walked around the truck a couple more times when he stopped alongside the front left fender. With his gloved hand, he reached over and retrieved a ten of spades playing card and a similar sized card with a raised yellow sunflower on it.

‘I think it’s definitely blood, David,’ said Jake. ‘Also, I found these.’ He held up the card.

David held out a plastic bag and Jake dropped them in. ‘Where were they?’

‘Tucked in the corner of the bonnet by the windscreen. Not a place something like that would fall naturally. It has to have been placed.’

‘We’ll add that to the pile,’ replied David. ‘If you’re done with the pics, you can take some samples. I’ve got some prints here, so hopefully we can see who’s been handling the truck.’

Jake took samples of the blood and brain matter and the noticed the hole. He took several more photos and began to investigate. ‘David, I think I’ve found what looks like a bullet hole, but I can’t feel any bullet in there.’ David came over as Jake was trying to reach behind the seat. ‘I can’t feel any exit point either.

‘Doesn’t mean there isn’t one.’

‘Unless the bullet has already been removed?’

‘That would be unusual,’ said David, thoughtfully.

David approached Will. ‘Do you have authority to open the back of the truck?’

‘No, Sir, I don’t,’ he replied. ‘I can get someone here.’

‘As quickly as you can please.’

Will took his radio and requested someone from the base come to the location of the truck with the means to access the cargo in the rear. At the same time, David called back to DFISHQ requesting a