Basis: Chapter 1

Date & Time: Thursday, September 4th, 1975 7:00 A.M.

City: St. Georgina

State: Lanahassee

A few weeks passed since Dustin met Shelly. Dustin and Jason solved a few cases between then and now. Little did they know that their first case was going to come back to bite them.

*It's early in the morning as Dustin's '71 Plymouth Roadrunner pulled into Precinct 51's underground Garage. He arrived early as usual to prepare for the next days of shifts. He walks into his office and puts on a pot of coffee.

Dustin: I need this for sure, fix me up Folgers.

*He brings the mug full of coffee up to his lips and takes a sip. He notices on the desk that it's 7:45.

Dustin: Huh, Jason should be here by now.

*He picked up the phone and dialed the front desk.

Attendant: Precinct 51?

Dustin: Hey, It's Detective Holcomb up in Homicide. Has my partner Jason Adams arrived yet?

Attendant: I'm sorry Detective I haven't seen him.

Dustin: Ok, thanks.

*Dustin hung up the phone and dialed Jason's home number. He got nothing but dial tone as no one picked up.

Dustin: He must be on his way.

*He picked up the CB radio mic and dialed in to channel 3, the channel they use for themselves on the CB.

Dustin: Jase, you copy?

*Nothing. He hit the button again.

Dustin: Jase, It's Holcomb do you copy?

*Dustin walked down the hall to Captain Rhoades' office. Dustin barged in just as Rhoades was taking a drink of coffee. Coffee spilled all down the front of Rhoades' shirt as he jumped.

Rhoades: Damn it, Holcomb, I just bought this shirt.

Dustin: Sorry, Cap. Listen have you heard anything from Jason?

Rhoades: No, not recently.

Dustin: I'm a bit worried, He's not answering the phone or CB and he's late for work. He's never late.

Rhoades: I don't know, think it might be one of those days?

Dustin: I don't know. All I know is that something is off here.

*Rhoades got up from his desk and poured himself another cup of coffee and looked at Dustin. The cigar in his hand billowing fragrant smoke.

Rhoades: It is odd he isn't here yet, as a matter of fact I remember him coming in early even if he had a hangover. Something I'd usually get onto him for.

Dustin: I'm gonna go follow the route he takes to work and see if I can find him.

Rhoades: Ok, I'll be here call me on the radio if you need it.

*Dustin quickly walked down to the garage, got into the Black '68 Charger and left the garage heading towards Jason's. As he travelled down the two-lane toward Clearwater, he looked out into the field owned by one of the local farms and seen a familiar-looking car out in the tall yellowing field.

Dustin: Jason!

*Dustin cut the wheel hard to enter the property's front gate, and pulled of to park. He climbed the wooden fence and ran over to the car. The car was Jason's blue and white 1975 Ford Gran Torino. The back of the car was riddled with bullet holes from a small-caliber gun, the rear glass was completely shattered, and a few drops of blood were on the steering wheel. The driver side door was slightly ajar, the front end was heavily dented, and the radiator was steaming slightly.

Dustin: Jesus, what the hell happened.

*Dustin ran back over to the Charger and grabbed the mic.

Dustin (Breathing heavily): This is Detective Holcomb. Anyone got a read.

Rhoades: This Rhoades, go ahead.

Dustin: Cap, Jason's gone.

Rhoades: He's dead.

Dustin: What!? No, sorry he's missing.

Rhoades: Where are you?

Dustin: I'm at his car in the field just off Route 5 going towards clearwater.

Rhoades: At Ol' Louie's Farm

Dustin: Yeah.

Rhoades: I'm on my way.

*Rhoades arrived at the scene with a wrecker and the forensic crew in tow. Dustin, who was leaning uneasily on the front fender of the Charger was trying to explain the situation to a very disgruntled Louie Filtch, the owner of the farmland.

Louie: I don't like people on my personal property.

Dustin: I know, Louie we'll be out of what's left of your hair shortly. That car in your field belong to a fellow detective of mine, more importantly he is my partner. So please let my men go to work, you'll have your harvest of hay when we're done. I promise that we'll be out of here soon.

Louie: Fine.

Dustin: Since you're here, Louie, did you happen to see anything unusual?

Louie: Yeah, I heard those damned kids racing up and the road with no respect for others around them. Using their hot rods and such.

Dustin: I'm sorry, did you say "Racing"?

Louie: Lookie here the detective can listen. I remember hearing engines, then a crash and when I came back, you had just pulled into my road right after those two big black cars left.

*Did you happen to see what kind of cars they were?

Louie: Son, I work on tractors, I could pull it apart and put it back together with a blindfold on, and most of the time I do. But that don't mean I know what kind of cars they were. But one was a muscle car the other was almost like a limousine.

Dustin: Alright, thank you Mr. Filtch. We'll be out of your field as fast as we possibly can.

Louie: Good. Be quick about it.

*Dustin walked over to Rhoades who was talking with Mrs. Filtch who was a bit flustered but remained calm as he walked up.

Dustin: Morning Mrs. Filtch.

Mrs. Filtch: Please Detective, its Nora.

Dustin: OK, Mrs. Filtch, I only say that out of respect, of course. Mama raised me that way. If I didn't, she would give me a butt whoopin' I'd never forget.

Nora: That's alright. Captain Rhoades just told me what happened. I'm so sorry.

Dustin: Yeah… Not gonna lie I'm a bit worried, not only is he my partner but he's my best friend.

Nora: Well, I'm not surprised from the men that he went with today.

Dustin and Rhoades: What?

Nora: 'Couse I would want my friend to see them either.

Rhoades: Who, Mrs. Filtch?

Mrs. Filtch: Well, They were pulling him out of his car here, he just kickin' and a screamin'. One of them hit him in the face with the butt of shotgun and threw him in the truck of one of their cars. And then they left.

Dustin: Why didn't you call the police?

Nora: We're still waiting on the phone company to connect our house phone. We never had one before, we never needed it until our grandson went to college.

Dustin: Did you happen to know what the make and models of those cars were?

Nora: Honey, I'm only familiar with cars driven by our milkman, the postman, and our grandson. That's it.

*Dustin and Rhoades said their thank-yous and farewells to Mrs. Filtch and joined Sebastian and his team at the Torino.

Dustin: Whatcha got C-Bass?

Sebastian: Well, If that little old lady's story rings true, then I'd we have a kidnapped Detective on our hands.

Dustin: I figured as much.

Sebastian: I'm sorry, Detective I wish I had more for you.

Rhoades: So from both of them you said they seen two black vehicles.

Dustin: Yeah, one almost like limo, the other a muscle car.

Rhoades: Alright, let's head back to the office, I'll make couple calls put out a feeler or two from the uniforms, and they'll come up with something.

Dustin: I hope.

Rhoades: Hey, look. It'll be alright. We've been through worse than this.

Dustin: What am I gonna tell, Shelly. He was gonna come over for dinner tonight.

Rhoades: The truth I'd hope. That is definitely not a girl you want to lie to.

Dustin Yeah, I know.

*Dustin got into the Charger and made his way back to Precinct 51 followed by Rhoades in his brown 1976 Dodge Coronet. When they arrived, the two walked into Rhoades' office and Dustin lit a cigarette. After a couple of puffs, he began to worry even more.

Dustin: Anything yet?

Rhoades: Holcomb these things take time alright. Why don't you just head on home, catch your breath and I'll see you in the morning. I'm sure I'll have something at least by then.

Dustin: Yeah, yeah alright. Keep me posted.

*Dustin left the building into the garage. He got in his Roadrunner and pulled out of the underground to see Jason's Torino being backed into the P51 Body shop. He pulled out and drove to nothing but the sound of his engine all the way back to Clearwater.