"Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster." - Barry Eisler, The Night Trade
CCPD 5th Precinct, Central City, Kansas, United States of America
9:52 AM EST, May 4, 1989
A young man rushed up the precinct's steps, late for his first day as a detective. Four years of hard work, yes sir, endless exams. Just so he can be late. Punching his timestamp card, Eddie Thawne rushed to the stairway. When he arrived to the Homicide Unit, the sounds of phones ringing, thugs arguing with police, and case work. Looking around, he saw the Lieutenant's office in the corner of the room. Walking past desks and detectives, he heard men being pissed at lawyers. Both on the phones and to each other. He wondered if that will happen to him. Reaching the opened office door, he knocked on the labeled glass. LT. Joe West. It read. Peeking in, he saw the man writing up reports.
"Lieutenant. I'm Detective Thawne. Reporting for duty. Sir." he greeted his new CO. West put the files down, standing up. Walking over to the door, the Lieutenant pulled Eddie in.
"Spivot get in here!" West yelled before walking back to his seat.
Eddie just stood there, no sure of what to do. The Lieutenant opened a drawer, grabbing a file. Looking inside, he whispered to himself. The young man turned to see an older gentleman walking towards the office. Spivot he guessed. Dropping the file on the desk, the Lieutenant gave the young man a look. When the older gentleman walked into the office, he eyed Eddie.
"Spivot meet your new partner. Thawne." West introduced. The new partners shook hands for the first time.
"Jim."
"Eddie."
"Now that you're met, go do your job." West ordered sharply.
The partners walked out of the office, with Jim leading the way. When the senior detective pointed at a desk, Eddie sat down while his partner sat at the desk in front of him. Looking at the case tray, he could tell that the previous detective here wasn't able to close them before leaving. Concerned for what happened to his predecessor, he turned to Jim.
"So, what happened to your old partner?"
"Retired. Good riddance. His final years were just him collecting cases and checks."
The rookie grabbed the top file, wanting to close these cases. Case file Rayner, Kyle. God, it's just a kid, he thought to himself. Only DOA victim. Three went to ICU and survived. No match to the bullets, no eyewitnesses, no video, only happened eight months ago. At first glance, it looks like there is no possibility of solving it. But from the records, it appeared the previous detective made no effort in solving it. Why wouldn't the old detective try to close this.
"I'm going out." Eddie said, putting the file in a briefcase.
"Where are you going?"
"To close the Rayner case. You want to come?"
"No, I got to call a law firm. A bitch of a pain." Jim said. Eddie chuckled at the very idea.
Central City, Kansas, United States of America
10:38 AM EST, May 4, 1989
Holding pictures up, Eddie tried to get a feel of the scene. Victim One was the target, Leo May. A drug dealer working for a George Harkness. He was grabbing a hot dog from a vendor, long gone. Victim Two, Andrew Lawsen. Homeless man, just laying in front of a store. Victim Three, Mary Heig. She was standing over Lawsen, trying to get him to leave her store. Victim Four, Kyle Rayner. Shot dead running to his sister. The young detective walked from where May was hit. No blood. Washed away. The stores had a clear, transparent window overlooking the scene. They wouldn't be looking outside when the drive by started. But there was always a chance. He walked into a Grocery, showing his badge to the store clerk.
"Hey. I'm Detective Thawne. On September 21, did you witness anything outside?" he asked.
"No." the clerk said without hesitation. Customers kept their heads down.
"How long you've been working here?"
"Since 86."
"Ah, so did you see or heard anything?" Eddie asked.
"No." he lied.
"Really? Because there was a drive by shooting on September 21. Lots of bullets. One dead. Hell lot of cops."
"I must have been on vacation."
"You know a six-year-old's parents are grieving. Know anyone who could have been a witness?" he asked and the man started to sweat.
"I'm sorry, sir, but I don't. Either buy something or please leave"
Eddie nodded as he left, knowing the fear Harkness causes in this city. The trail of bodies was felt from the beat to the Commissioner on high. As he walked over to where Lawsen and Heig were hit, a CSI van rolled up. A young, scrawny man got out before rushing to the back for his equipment. The detective went back to the scene. Heig's store has long since been abandoned. Looking inside, he saw a video camera. Its footage lost with the store went up.
Walking over to a fenced courtyard filled with junk. Tarps cover some of it. Back on the beat, he remembered the tricks the homeless came up with to hide. Coming to the chained gate, he pulled it out, opening the gate. Putting his hand on his sidearm, he looked through the tarps. When he flipped a tarp to find a homeless man. He crawled back, scared of the detective.
"Its alright. I'm Detective Thawne." Eddie said, grabbing a photo of Lawsen. "Do you know this man?"
"Oh, yeah. Haven't seen. Not since he was taken."
"By whom?"
"The ambulance."
"Did you saw anything before he was taken in the ambulance?"
"Yeah, a car drove by firing a gun." At that, Eddie kneeled down next to the man.
"What kind of car?"
"Blue."
"How many doors?"
"I saw two."
"Did you saw the men?" Eddie asked and the man shook his head.
After thanking the man, Eddie left. As he got through the gate, the CSI walked over. Before the man could say anything, the Detective held his finger up, silencing the man. The blue vehicle sped by, firing a gun. But no casings. Walking along the sidewalk, the CSI followed. At a storm drain, the detective grabbed a flashlight. Laying down on the street, he shined the light down. The smell was atrocious. There was slime, muck, and things he didn't even want to think about. But a glimmer caught his attention.
"Get tweezers." Eddie ordered the CSI.
He handed the detective the tweezers. Looking back into the drain, he reached in. Carefully aiming his light at the glimmer. When the tweezers closed, he caught it. Pulling out, he revealed a bullet casing. Perhaps the lab tech can get something. Even after all this time. The CSI had a bag ready. As Eddie dropped the bullet in it, a conversation started up.
"The names Barry." the CSI said as he sealed the bag.
"Good to meet you, Barry. If you can get something from that bullet, I'll appreciate it."
"Yes sir. May the Fourth be with you." Barry said before leaving the detective alone. Eddie rolled his eyes, realizing the CSI was a lonely geek. Turning back to the scene, he looked for possible witnesses and video surveillance overseeing the area.
CCPD 5th Precinct, Central City, Kansas, United States of America
12:05 PM EST, May 4, 1989
He had spent hours trying to get witnesses to come forward, but no one listened to Eddie. They're afraid. His only hope was for the bullet casing. As he sat in his seat, he grabbed the next case. As he was reading the file, his partner sat in his own seat. Jim grabbed a flask from his coat. Before he could take a drink, West tapped on the Detective's shoulder. Jim frowned before handing the flask to the Lieutenant.
"Got anything from your case?" Jim asked, grabbing one of his own files.
"Just a bullet casing." Eddie answered and his partners whistled.
"Tough break."
The two began to read files, making their own notes. Discusses parts of the cases for a second set of eyes. Eddie found it infuriating that his predecessor failed in their duty as a cop. So many bodies. Too many families grieving. As he read more cases, that Barry kid walked through the home. Some detectives waved at the man as he entered West's office. Normally, CSI doesn't interact with a CO unless something was up.
"Hey, know what CSI is doing with the Lieutenant?" Eddie asked. Jim looked up to see Barry talking to West.
"That's just Barry." Jim casually said, leaving Eddie confused.
"I know that. But why is he with the Lieutenant?"
"Right. You're new here. When Barry was a kid, his old man killed his mother right in front of him. The Lieutenant raised him after that."
"Damn." Eddie said, looking back at the CSI. He felt bad for the young man. The two walked out of the office, smiling. Turning back to the case work, he began to jot down addresses. Putting the files in a suitcase, he grabbed his sidearm, holstering it. Jim waved at his partner before he left.
Central City, Kansas, United States of America
2:56 PM EST, May 4, 1989
Lower Range was a slum compared to the rest of the city. Most of the crime reported comes from it. It is the most dangerous place for a cop to travel. Eddie knew it was stupid to go alone, but he needs to get these cases close. He kept an eye on the surroundings, watching out for trouble. Pulling over to a gas station, he spotted a group of gangbangers waiting outside the station. Getting out, Eddie relaxed. Not wanting to frighten the thugs into doing something stupid.
Walking past them, he spotted the tattoos on their arms. These were Copperheads. Entering the station, he peeked over, seeing them eyeing him. He got to the fridges, pulling out crime scene photos of the Abram Seco murder. Only one body. Beaten with a bat. No video thanks to the gang's repeatedly breaking them. When the bell jingled, he put the photos back. Grabbing a bag of chips as he walked to the check-out. The gangbangers waiting by the door. One was holding a bat. The clerk left to the back. The bat was handed to a teen. A gang orientation.
The detective put his hand on his sidearm, showing it off to the gangbangers. A few of them chuckled. They pushed the teen back. The next moments were tense. As they pulled out their guns, he took cover. Gunshot ripped the shelfs, shattering glass, unholstering the pistol he returned fire, grabbing his radio, he called for reinforcements. As he took their flank, his shots were careful and lethal. After unloading his first magazine, they ran. Racing to the window, he saw them jumping into red Jeep Cherokee. Focusing on the license plate, he memorized it. As they took a left on Hudson Avenue, police sirens echoed the station.
CCPD 5th Precinct, Central City, Kansas, United States of America
5:09 PM EST, May 4, 1989
"How can you be that stupid! Protocal has it so partners go to the Lower Range! You knowingly went their without backup!" West yelled at Eddie. Hours of questioning from IA just to be yelled at by his CO. The Lieutenant turned to Jim, equally angry. "And you? Did you never thought about showing your partner the ropes of the job? Make sure he dosen't get himself killed?"
"This was my fault. Detective Spivot had nothing to do with me breaking protocals." Eddie said, earning a scornful glare from the Lieutenant.
"Thawne. For this next week you'll be suspended." West ordered. A small punishment for Eddie's stupid move.
CCPD 5th Precinct, Central City, Kansas, United States of America
10:03 PM EST, May 13, 1989
Eddie finished up another report, closing the Rayner case. Thanks to a single casing and luck, he caught a murderer. But there was always another case. As he grabbed a file, Jim walked over. The partner grabbed his firearm, holstering it. Turning off the desk lamp, putting the files in a stack. "Want to grab a beer?"
"No, I got to check some results in forensics." Eddie said.
"Okay, see you tomorrow." Jim said, walking away.
Eddie stood up, making his way to the break room. Getting himself a cup of coffee before heading to the stairs. He took a sip of the drink as he walked down to the besement. The air was cold, he had to cross his arms. Reaching the CSI unit, he walked in to find only Barry typing on a computer. His back turned to the Detective. Flashing red and blue lights illuminating parts of the lab from the small windows. The regular lights blinking on and off.
"Hey Barry, got the DNA samples yet?" he asked. The CSI turned his chair, rolling over to a table with a bulky machine. He grabbed a piece of paper from it.
"Bad news, the sample from the scene dosen't match your suspect." Barry said before rolling back to his desk. Eddie cursed to himself.
"Well, see ya Barry." Eddie said. As he walked past the shelves filled with chemicals, a loud boom caught his attention. The next thing he knew, a sharp, hot pain pierced his back. Then nothing.
Accelerator Incident Medical Center, STAR Labs, Central City, Kansas, United States of America
11:47 AM EST, Feburary 13, 1990
His eyes flickered open. A bright light was blinding. A beeping sound rocked his brain. As Eddie's vision began to clear, he was covered in white blankets, IVs in his arm. The room was small, white and tan walls. He was in a hospital. Lifting himself up, he tossed the blankets aside. Moving his legs off the bed, he stood up, immediatly falling onto his face. Yelping from the short pain. As he tried to crawl, a woman rushed into the room. She helped him back onto the bed.
"Do you remember your name?" she asked.
"Eddie. he asked, rubbing his aching head. "Where am I? What happened?"
"There was an accident at STAR Labs. You were in a unexplained coma." she answered. His eyes widened. Heart pumping.
"How long?"
"Nine months." Nine months. He was out for nine month. Eddie couldn't believe. How much has changed.