Orphan 2
Esther's Revenge
Written By: JMD Nelson
Chapter 1: Dead Reckoning
"We're not sure of what quite happened here."
Policemen and reporters littered the façade of the Coleman house, the blue and red lights sweeping off its silhouette. The events that had happened just moments before were still unclear to the busy crowd outside Kate's home. They area had been sealed off with yellow crime tape and people were coming in and out.
Inside an ambulance not too far away, Kate Coleman shivered under the warm thermal blankets as her youngest daughter Max sat beside her. Max gently caressed her mother's hair as Kate stared silently at the ambulance roof. She could not accept what had happened here just recently.
"We know that there was some sort of attack that happened but police have no further details yet," said reporter Lynn Garner, "we do know at least one person is dead, his name has not yet been released to us." She motioned the cameraman to follow her to a short cop with his back turned to her.
"Detective Wilson," Lynn called, making the unsuspecting cop jump and turn to her, "what do we have so far? There's word going around that the two members of the family have just barely survived an attack. Is this true?" "It's unclear at this point as to what exactly happened," Wilson said, raising his hands up, "the woman won't tell us anything. We do have one dead. Everything will be taken care of."
As Wilson was about to walk off, Lynn covered the camera lense and grabbed him. He looked surprised at her and cleared his throat. "Alright Wilson," Lynn sneered, "Enough! You can't keep me in the dark like this, dammit." "It's all I know at the moment, Lynn" Wilson shot back, "You'll get your story. Just be a little Goddamn patient!" He yanked his arm back from her.
A black car pulled up, stopping abruptly. Wilson walked off towards it, shielding his eyes from the headlights. "You're late," Wilson grumbled. A tall cop in his 40's, wearing a black trench coat stepped out onto the freshly fallen snow. He ran his hand through his dark brown hair slick backed hair and turned to Wilson. "I've kept the place under control until you got here, Alan" Wilson explained, "You're welcome." "Wilson, what was our deal, huh?" Detective Alan Emerson asked Wilson, "you don't tell how to do my job and I don't tell you how to do yours." "Whatever man," said Wilson, "Somebody's gotta maintain around here. Want to hear about what we've got?"
"One confirmed dead, one wounded and the other body is in the pond," Alan interrupted. "How the hell did you find that out?" asked Wilson. "The Captain," said Alan, "I was on my way home. Told me to meet him here. Filled me in on the way." They both ducked under the yellow tape. "No, no after you," Wilson remarked sarcastically. They both walked inside, seeing the coroners going about their business.
A tall dark and skinny fellow with glasses looked up at them. Alan extended his hand to the man who shook it. "Hell of a mess we've got here, huh Cap?" asked Alan. Captain Rousseau pushed his glasses back up and nodded. "I just don't get it" Rousseau said, "She says her own adopted daughter killed her husband." "Esther," said Wilson, checking his notepad, "She's still unaccounted for." "Well apparently, she did all this and then got herself killed in the pond" Rousseau explained, "The mother in the ambulance outside took the liberty of doing so." He pointed down at their feet.
Alan spotted a large cloth with a shape under it. He knelt down beside it and as Rousseau lifted the sheet back, his eyebrows shot up. "Stabbed multiple time in the chest and stomach area," Rousseau explained, "He never had a chance." Wilson shuddered in disgust and had to turn away for a second. Rousseau stared at Alan, who kept staring down at the lifeless corpse.
The 3 of them exited the house and stood there. He eyed the 2 Coleman's in the ambulance. At that same moment, Kate shifted her gaze over to his. Alan sighed and nodded his head. Kate returned the gesture and then rest her head down on her daughter's head. Behind him, the medics carried out John's covered body. Max lifted her glassy eyes up just in time to see them and let out a tiny scream. "Max, no!" yelled Kate, trying to restrain her. Max jumped up, and raced out of the vehicle towards the medics. Alan raced over as Max reached the medics. Max continued to scream and squirm as Alan scooped her up, holding her away.
"Calm down, little one" Alan said, hugging her, "It's alright, it's all over now." Max hung there; sobbing with her eyes squeezed shut. Alan wrapped her up in his coat and carried her back to the ambulance. Kate sat up, fresh tears running down her face. Alan gently placed Max into Kate's arms. "Oh honey, I'm so sorry!" Kate sobbed, "I'm sorry I couldn't save him. But the detective's right. It's going to be alright!" Max looked up at Alan, powerlessness in her eyes. Alan rubbed her cheek with his thumb. Max stopped whimpering and stared up at him. He smiled at her and lightly squeezed her shoulder.
"Hey Murphy, get moving will ya?" Wilson barked to the ambulance driver, "These poor ladies are going to freeze to death!" The pencil neck looked up from his smoke and flicked it out. "Sorry Detective," Murphy said, putting his cap on. Wilson shook his head and joined up beside Alan. "Thank you," Kate said quietly. Alan was taken a back.
Alan then nodded to her before closing the ambulance door and pounding on the back twice. He waited till it pulled away from the house and started through the woods until he turned and quietly went back to the crime scene.