A/N: Might change the title later
It was a warm August night in New York City and most people were settling down for the evening or heading to a night job. The last glimpses of sunlight peaked over the horizon but were fading with every passing moment. In a decent sized home in the Upper East Side, a man was sitting at his desk, his blue-gray eyes furiously looking over multiple papers. District Attorney Alex Marshall was no stranger to nights like these. 30 years as a lawyer and almost 8 as NYC's DA had rendered late nights like these all too familiar. At this point, Marshall himself was surprised that his wife of 45 years, Evelyn, hadn't left him and taken their four kids with her.
However, late nights like these could soon come to an end if the 68-year-old Marshall didn't win re-election against his opponent, 30-year-old attorney Alina Morales. She had worked with him on a couple of cases, mostly notably one from several years ago when they successfully convicted businessman Kash Patel of drug trafficking and tax evasion. While he liked Alina, he found her a bit brash and inexperienced.
The TV was on in the background with the evening news on. Deciding to take his mind off his work, Marshall turned to face the television and grabbed the remote to turn up the volume. The newscasters briefly touched on the weather and some minor news stories before turning to one about the election. For the past couple of months, Marshall and Morales had been tied in the polls and apparently tonight's poll was no different. Marshall sighed and was about to turn back to his work when another news story caught his attention.
"...At this hour, cleanup is underway at Gracie Mansion where several ghosts caused chaos and destruction earlier today." The female new anchor reported, "Thankfully, the rampaging specters were captured by the Ghostbusters, and no one was seriously injured."
The TV showed several clips of the famed paranormal removal team exiting Gracie Mansion with several smoking traps and being hounded by reporters. Marshall had never really thought much of the Ghostbusters; however, he had come to respect them after they had survived being kidnapped and tortured by Walter Peck and Jack Hardemyer last year. Marshall himself had worked the case and was easily able to get life in prison for both.
"Alex?" a female voice said.
"Yes dear?" Marshall replied as he turned and saw his wife standing in the doorway wearing a silk robe.
"Come to bed soon. Remember, you're not 25 anymore." Evelyn said
"I haven't been 25 in 43 years." Marshall quipped.
"You know what I mean."
"I know Evie. But this is a really important case, it could potentially be one of the largest drug busts in city history. Could also give me a boost for the election."
"I know it is, but it's not going to help if you get sleep deprived." Evelyn said as she walked over to her husband, "Just come to bed soon or I'll lock your study."
"Yes dear." Marshall playfully replied, "Love you, Evie."
"Love you too Alex." Evelyn replied as she walked out of the study.
The DA turned his attention back to his work. After 20 minutes, Marshall suddenly felt a gust of air hit his back. He turned his head and saw a window that was slightly open. He muttered under his breath as he walked over to close it. After latching it shut, he turned around to walk back to his desk when he came face to face with a ghost with blood red eyes and a red aura. It had long sharp claws that were ready to tear the DA to shreds.
"You..." the ghost snarled.
The last thing out of Marshall's mouth was a horrified scream.
The next morning, at the Ghostbusters' firehall HQ, Dr. Peter Venkman stumbled into the kitchen still half-asleep and towards the coffee pot. Dr. Egon Spengler was already sitting at the table with a cup of coffee and a book on fungi. Ever since their other two colleagues, Dr. Ray Stantz and Winston Zeddemore, had gotten married and moved out, it had just been the two of them living in the firehall. Although the four still saw each other every day, it was still weird not living together like they had done for so long. Peter poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table.
"Good morning Venkman." Egon said.
"Morning Spengs..." Peter mumbled.
"Morning guys." Winston said as he came up the stairs.
"Hey Z, how are you?" Peter asked.
"A little tired, but other than that I'm fine." Winston replied as he poured himself coffee.
"How has Tiyah been?" Egon asked, referring to Winston's wife who was currently seven months pregnant.
"She's been ok." Winston replied as he sat down, "But I can tell she's just ready for it to be over."
"Just two more months and it will be." Peter reassured.
"More like two years to her. She spent an hour throwing up last night." Winston remarked as he sipped his coffee.
"Y'all better have saved coffee for me." a tired voice called out.
"Don't worry Raymond, the pot's still half full." Egon replied.
"Rather have a full pot but I'll take it." Ray remarked as he poured a mug all the way to the brim the proceeded to sit down with his friends. Dark circles were clearly present under his heterochromatic eyes, indicative of a lack of sleep.
"Not get your beauty sleep last night?" Peter playfully teased.
"Pete, leave him alone, he has a baby at home." Winston interjected to defend his sleep deprived friend.
A little over a month ago, Ray's wife Jenny gave birth to their son Ryan. The first few weeks hadn't been too out of the ordinary with the usual side effects like lack of sleep. However, for the past couple of days, Ryan had been suffering from a bad case of colic that was leaving both Ray and Jenny more sleep deprived than normal.
"Not in the mode right now Venkman." Ray replied as he glared at the psychologist, "And you'll probably be feeling the same way once you and Dana have a kid."
"Maybe you should take the day off again Raymond." Egon suggested, "We can handle busts just fine."
"No, no, I'll be fine." Ray insisted, "I've already missed three days in a row."
"We're not gonna fire you for taking paternal leave man." Winston replied.
"Well, I hope not." the engineer playfully quipped, "You're definitely gonna need it in a couple of months Z."
"Don't remind me..." Winston said before taking a sip of coffee.
"Speaking of which, you didn't leave Jenny home alone with Ryan did you?" Peter asked.
"Her mom's over there right now, she's gonna stay with us for a few days." Ray replied as he took a big sip of coffee not caring that it was still hot.
Suddenly, the sound of the klaxon filled the air. The four jumped up from the table and slid down the firepole into the garage. While Ray, Egon, Winston went to put on their jumpsuits, Peter walked over to Janine Melnitz, their secretary and Egon's girlfriend.
"What do we got Janine?" Peter asked.
"Detective Ross is on the phone, she needs to talk to you." the redhead replied.
Peter took the phone from Janine and held it up to his ear. "Detective Ross, it's Dr. Venkman. Yeah..." Peter's green eyes went wide, "Seriously? Why do you need us then? Oh...We're on our way."
Peter quickly handed the phone back to Janine who handed him a piece of paper. After quickly throwing on his jumpsuit, he hopped into Ecto-1.
"What do we got Pete?" Winston asked as he pulled out of the firehall.
"Detective Ross called." Peter explained, "District Attorney was murdered in his home last night."
"Jesus Christ..." the Marine muttered before shaking his head.
"Wait, why do they need us then?" Ray asked confused.
"His wife said she was attacked by a ghost last night, she's in the hospital right now. And there's evidence that something supernatural showed up. Detectives think that the ghost that attacked her killed Marshall." Peter replied.
After about 20 minutes, the four-membered team arrived outside a home in the Upper East Side that was surround by police cars, officers, and yellow caution tape. Off to side and cut off by metal barriers were reporters and cameramen. After stepping out of Ecto-1 and gathering their equipment, the boys were met by Detective Linda Ross and her partner, Detective Douglas Scott. The two detectives had formed somewhat of a partnership with the team after they had helped find the guys after they had been kidnapped by Peck and Hardemyer.
"Thanks for coming fellas." Scott said.
"Yeah, we're always available to look over dead bodies. Especially at 9 in the morning." Peter quipped before being elbowed hard by Winston.
"Seriously Pete?!" the former Marine hissed.
"Sorry..."
"Follow us." Ross gestured.
The Ghostbusters followed the two detectives inside the house as reporters shouted questions at them. The two officers standing at the doorway stepped aside to let the group in. The boys were led up the stairs and into the study. Other detectives and a forensic team were already there looking over the scene. The guys were greeted by the sight of the dead DA in a chair, looking like he had been attacked by a wild animal. His pale, lifeless face was covered with several large bloody scratches that rendered him almost unrecognizable. Blood was spattered all over the chair and the floor around it. Some had even spattered on the walls. There were some deep lacerations on his arms, shoulders, and legs. But the most gruesome part was three long and deep lacerations across the DA's chest.
"My God..." Ray said in horror.
Winston simply made the sign of the cross.
"What happened Detective?" Egon asked.
"Happened around 10 P.M. last night." Detective Scott replied, "DA was up here working on a case. His wife heard him scream, so she ran upstairs and claimed to have found him in the chair with a ghost hovering over him. She screamed and it attacked her. That was all we got out of her before she went unconscious."
"Who found them?" Peter asked. Ray had slipped on his ecto goggles and began to look around the room. Egon began scanning the air and objects around him with his PKE meter.
"Their daughter. She came by to take her mother to an appointment." Ross replied, "When neither her nor the DA responded she searched the house for them. She founded them up here and called 911."
"So, what makes you think this was done by a ghost?" Winston asked.
"Probably was some psycho who broke in here and she got confused." another detective commented.
"I wouldn't be so sure, I'm getting definite PKE readings." Egon said as he looked at his meter, "Readings suggest a Class 5."
"Pete, Egon, Z, come over." Ray called who was standing by a window.
The three walked over to the window where the engineer was standing. The window was covered in a red residue and on the windowsill was a residue that was slightly glowing.
"Is that what I think it is?" Peter asked.
"Yeah, red ectoplasm." Ray replied as he looked at the slime through his goggles.
"I didn't know ghost slime came in different colors." Scott commented.
"This is a rarer form." Egon said as he gently gathered a sample, "We haven't been able to document its properties much because it deteriorates faster than other varieties. So, the fact that traces of it are still here after hours is both intriguing and unusual."
"It's probably just some kind of undiscovered mold or waste product the killer dragged in here." the other detective said rolling his eyes.
"With all due respect sir, I study molds and I have never seen a specimen glow without a special light." Egon replied slightly annoyed.
"Mold also doesn't give off PKE readings." Ray added as he glared at the detective.
"Excuse me Doctor Stantz." The detective said sarcastically.
"Leave them alone Detective Capriotti." Ross warned, "They're here to help us find out who or what killed Marshall."
"Reckless maniacs..." Capriotti muttered under his breath as he walked out of the study.
"Nice guy." Peter sarcastically quipped.
"He's just not into all the supernatural stuff that you four deal with." Scott replied.
"Hey, Ray, Egon, looks like there's some slime on the DA's wounds." Winston said.
The engineer and physicist walked over to the Marine. The wounds were a lot more gruesome up close. Ray slipped on his goggles again and could see a few faint traces of red ectoplasm around the wounds on the DA's chest.
"Is it just me or does the uppermost laceration look different than the others?" Peter asked as he peered over Ray's shoulder.
"Yeah, we noticed that." Ross said, "Looks like he was cut with a knife than a ghost with claws. But of course, we won't know exactly until the ME does an autopsy."
"What the hell are they doing here?!" a gruff, authoritative voice shouted from behind.
The Ghostbusters and detectives turned around to find a tall man in his early 50s standing behind them with several other officers flanking him. He had grayed hair and a beard, a steely brown gaze that could probably kill someone, and a muscular build that rivaled Winston's. He wore a uniform indicating that he was high in rank in the NYPD and had a gun in a holster on his belt.
"We asked them to come Jim." Detective Scott said, defending the team.
"For what, they're not detectives or forensic analysts." Major Jim Wallace snapped.
"We know, but Mrs. Marshall said she was attacked by a ghost." Ross replied.
"She was probably seeing things or has some form of dementia." Wallace said dismissively.
"Sir, Mrs. Marshall has no history of mental illness or dementia." Scott said.
"Also, no offense Major Wallace, but how do you explain this?" Egon asked as he held up the vial containing the red ectoplasm.
"Probably some toxic waste the killer tracked in." Wallace replied rolling his eyes.
"Toxic waste doesn't give off PKE readings like ghosts and ectoplasm do." Ray added.
"I don't give a shit Dr. Stantz." Wallace growled before turning to Ross and Scott, "As for you two, I can't believe you would invite them here. This is the DA for Christ's sake."
"We know sir, but his wife said she was attacked by a ghost so we thought it would be good to call them so we could verify whether or not there was a ghost." Ross said her eyes never leaving the major's, "And based on what Dr. Stantz and Dr. Spengler have gathered, it's very possible that a ghost killed Marshall."
"And as I said, Mrs. Marshall has no history of mental or any signs of mental degeneration." Scott added, "At least let them finish here first."
Wallace closed his eyes and sighed. He tilted his head back and remained silent for a minute before speaking.
"Two minutes, then I want them out." he replied.
"Sir, the press is ready for your statement downstairs." another officer said.
"I'll be right there." Wallace turned to the detectives and pointed at the Ghostbusters, "If they're not out of here in two minutes, you two are on traffic duty for a month."
With that, Major Wallace turned around and head downstairs to the front, his boots echoing loudly throughout the house.
"Nice guy." Peter quipped as he stood next to Ross.
"Yeah, Jim's as mean as a bull and tougher than a two-dollar steak." Ross replied, "But he can be a good guy."
"Maybe we should talk to the DA's wife." Ray suggested, "She might be able to give us more details on what happened."
"We'll come with you four." Ross said as she brushed back a lock of hair, "Standard procedure."
"Well, I guess we better get out of here, so the major doesn't come back and take his anger out on you two." Winston said.
"Wouldn't be the first time." Scott quipped.
The detectives led the guys back down the stairs. Outside the house, Major Wallace was standing behind a podium giving a statement to a group of reporters and cameramen.
"...Today, a wife lost her husband of 45 years, four kids lost their father, six grandchildren lost their grandfather, and NYC lost an ally in the fight against crime." Major Wallace stated, "Alex was a good man, a good lawyer, a good DA, and a good friend. He helped put away corrupt businessmen and get drugs off the streets. And I, along with the entirety of the NYPD, will not rest until we find the killer. This was an act of true sadism and whoever did it will pay heavily. Thank you."
Reporters immediately started shouting questions. The detectives and the guys slipped behind the major and made their way to Ecto-1. However, the gaggle of reporters noticed the team and quickly surrounded the team and shouted questions.
"Dr. Venkman, is there evidence that a ghost murdered the DA?" one reporter shouted.
"Are New Yorkers at risk of being murdered by an angry ghost?" another shouted.
"At this time, we have no conclusion, but this was just a precautionary measure." Peter replied.
That wasn't enough to satisfy reporters who continued to shout questions. From behind the mob of reporters, Major Wallace gave a fierce glare, signaling to Ross and Scott that the famed paranormal containment team better leave. The detectives led the team away from the reporters and to Ecto-1. After putting away their equipment, the four got into Ecto-1 and drove to the hospital, following Detectives Ross and Scott.
However, across the street in a dark alleyway, a figure was standing there and had been watching the whole scene unfold. He sighed in disappointment. He had hoped that the police would brush off Mrs. Marshall's comments about being attacked by a ghost as a sign of dementia. Unfortunately, that was not the case. After seeing the Ghostbusters show up, he knew the plan was going get a bit more complicated. He took out his cellphone and quickly dialed a number.
"Hey, it's me. Yeah, I'm just across the street from it...yeah I know...Don't worry, me and my guys will keep an eye on them...Don't worry, we'll make sure they won't interfere with our plans..."
To be continued...