Tears in Rain, A Summer Rain mystery - Chapter 7

7 - Torch

 Stark took a sip of his coffee. Then he revealed a case file from his coat.
“You have a strong stomach if I recall?” he said
“Mmm hm” I nodded at him, while I stuffed my face. In an adorable way, I thought. 
“Alright, it is your lunch” he pushed the file to my side of the table.
Crime scene photos, a body, blood and death. I breathed in deeper. So much blood.

I Wiped my hands and looked through the file. “What am I looking at?” I said
“You knew him right?” Stark said
I knew him, sure. Anyone would. I was looking at the Torch, one of the greatest heroes in Millenium City. Ok he wasn’t Captain Tomorrow but still he was well known and well liked. And now he was dead it seemed. Died bad too. Hell, who doesn’t.
.
I knew The Torch in the war, he was a guardian angel to us. Saved my life once.
I saw him take an RPG to the chest in the sand box without getting a scratch. But no one survives war without a scratch, without scars no matter how powerful or special you are. Even if they say time heals all wounds. I’ve found that time is not the best of nurses. You’ll always keep your scars, as a silent reminder, invisible just under your skin.
The Torch must’ve had them too. It seems time didn’t heal his wounds, it just caught up to him. The Torch had been in one fight too many. Now he lay dead in gutter.
A shame but that is where most heroes journeys usually ends. Forgotten in a back alley whoever you were washed away only the mask rememaining. 
“Damn” I drawled

I realised that I had been rubbing the back of my right shoulder for a while. Massaging old scar tissue left from when I got my tattoo removed. A reminder of my service that I’d rather forget. Disguising it as scratching my arm. I quickly took my hand away. Embarrassed. Stark was looking at me. Concerned.

“Yeah I knew him. Doesn’t everybody? I’m not sure what you from me here.” I said
“Maybe you stayed in touch” He asked
“You know I didn’t” I said
“Well you are a detective and your history makes you an expert on powers, metas. Whether you like it or not” he knew I didn’t like it.
“Well I’m not the cop here, you are, but I mean you don’t really need an expert to solve this.” I made giant air quotes at the word expert.
“It is just meta on meta violence right? It is not some sort of big mystery is it. Some meta criminal or powered punk got the better of him. What am I not getting here?” I asked. 
“It was murder.” Stark said. His voice somber, serious, honest. I listened. “No sign of a struggle, no big fight. No villain. No one knows he’s dead yet”  He said.
I pointed at the crime scene photo, all that blood.. “No struggle, huh?” I said, mostly to myself.
Must have hit an artery, didn’t even know he could be cut like that . He fell from the sky, apparently. A lot of high rise apartment buildings in that neighborhood. He was right not much crime there. Why were he there? Who or what could get the drop on him like that?     
“Check the rooftops around the crime scene, I think he fell from there. You might find something there”. I said.
“We did. Rain the amount of blood reads like anger or revenge to me. Crime of passion or affect at least.” He said.
I nodded, he continued.
“But the method indicates planning, premeditated. Murder. It must have been someone he knew. I don’t think a meta did it, Rain. I don’t know who, why or even how. I don’t his powers are and what could do that to him” He pointed at all the blood. “Need your help Rain, if  I knew who he really was my life would be so much easier”
“Alright you got me, I’ll help. Too curious not to at this  point” I said
Dammit Rain remember what killed the cat. Remember your rules.

Tears in Rain, A Summer Rain mystery - Chapter 6

6 - Neon

The theme from the Pink Panther apparated from my back pocket. I scooped out my phone. How did I not put it on vibrate, getting rusty are we Rain. The screen read “Stark”. Damn. What did he want.
I picked up the phone and wedged it between my chin and shoulder.
“Rain” I said a tad too curtly “ I’m busy. What do you want?”
“And a good day to you too” came the gruff voice of detective Murphy Stark of Millenium City Major Crimes division. “I got something, I could use your help on”
I started stuffing the file into the bag on my hip.
“I’m on a job, and last I checked the MCPD doesn’t pay consultants” I responded. In truth it was nice to hear his voice. But I was not kidding about the money. I had to pay my rent after all. 
“A favor then? It’s a delicate case and I could really need a woman’s delicate touch on this”
“flattery won’t get you anywhere with me Stark. You know I’m strictly a material girl.” 
“I’ll buy you lunch then how about that? Well dinner I guess. I promise you, you’ll want to see this. It is one for the history books” He said.
He was teasing but I could tell how serious he was about whatever this was.
“Is that right?” I said coyly, “Tell you what I’ll give you 5 minutes. Neon Diner in 20? your treat” 
“Already on my way” He said. “Knew you couldn’t resist my charms”
“Bye Stark” I said with exaggerated chipper joy.
“Rain” he respond and the line clicked off.
What harm could there be in giving the police 5 minutes of my time. He wouldn’t rope me into anything. He was  a friend and I’m never one to pass up a free meal.

The street was obscured by mist. Rain was in the air but the rainfall hadn’t started in earnest yet. The red neon sign emerged from the mist like some …..
I pulled my coat closer, I liked the rains. The neon sign spells “Neon Diner” in bold stylized 80’s letters. The 24 hour diner was located in a second floor concrete overhang overlooking a monorail
I didn’t care much for the theme but the food wasn’t half bad and it was close to the 5th precinct station house.

I walked up the old iron stairs. I could hear the hum of electricity from the old transformers and the rattle of wheels on rail. The  monorail and public transportation was a proud tradition in Millenium City. Old, neglected. proud.
I entered the Diner through the frosted glass door accompanied by the chirp of the attached bell.
Inside was the thick delightful smell of coffee and grease. The low rattle of kitchen bustle and 80s classics. And they were playing Toto. I couldn't help but smile. 

The waitress was a plucky middle aged tired woman, crows feet and wrinkles at the corners of her mouth from smiling. A pair of reading glasses in a string around her neck. Dirty apron with a notepad and a couple of pencils in the pocket.
“What will it be?” she asked, pencil in hand.
“Coffee, black” said Stark in a practiced monotone.
She turned to me “What about you sweety?” 
I eyed Stark. Then smiled at the waitress and put down the dingy menu.
“Steak & Eggs, fries of course. A chocolate shake. Coffee, milk, foam and lots of cinnamon. oh and give me some of that hot sauce on the if you don’t mind. Thanks” I said smiling gleefully.
Stark looked at me like he was trying to conjure dormant laser vision to fry me. I just give him a knowing look. He did say this was his treat. What can I say.
“I’ll have a piece of the cherry pie then” Stark added as the waitress was about to leave.
“Coming right up” she said, walking to the kitchen. 

I turned back to Stark.
“So what's up” I asked “not a social call you said”
“It's been a long time” he said “how are you doing?” 
“You know. Keeping on, keeping on” I narrowed my eyes suspiciously “You are stalling” I said “why?”
The gruff old man looked at me earnestly. “All business huh, Rain. Can’t two old friends just catch up?” Stark said “He worries about you you know”
An old anger began to rear its ugly head. “Dad sent you!? Really” I all but yelled.
Calm down Rain, that squeaky tone doesn’t suit you. “And you use work as an excuse” I shock my head at him. “I could just go, you know,  I don’t need this”
“You won’t and you do” he simply said and we both knew how right he was.

The waitress appeared to have impeccable timing as she swooped in to save us from old resentments. My dad managed to fuck things up without even being present. That just great.
The waitress gave Stark his pie and coffee and I got my drinks. “I’ll be right back with your food in a second. Is everything else fine?” She asked
“Just peachy” I said  “Thanks”
I took a long sip of my shake, closing my eyes as the cold chocolatey liquid of joy filled my chest. A sigh of content escaped me. I looked up at a smiling Stark. I quickly put down my drink, embarrassed. I must have looked like a little kid.
Well I felt like a petulant child for snapping at him like that.
“Sorry about that” I said and meant it, “It’s just… Well he could talk to me directly instead of getting his friends to bribe me with chocolate” I pushed the straw around my in shake. “not that I’m complaining about the chocolate, mind you”
“He wants to give you your space.” Stark said
“Space, Yeah, he’s good at space” I grumbled. You’re doing it again Rain. “Sorry”
“Ha” He said. “Something funny?” I said
“You are your father’s daughter all right, that is for sure. there is only one person I know more stubborn than Jonathan Lake” he stabbed a finger at me. I made a face. He laughed again and I couldn’t help but smile.

The rest of my food arrived and I got stuck in.

Tears in Rain, A Summer Rain mystery - Chapter 5

5 - Blacklight

The file on the desk was an audit of Russalka Ltd, a holding company that included some small shipping and import/export businesses. It was full of boring accountant stuff, in neat precise columns. Math and numbers was never my thing but as far as I could see there was nothing out of the ordinary here. If Russalka was one of Sergey Tarasov’s companies and by extension the mob’s then there had to be more to it. Russalka had to be a shell.
Why hide it in a locked drawer. What were you up to Clay?. Without thinking  I had been fiddling with the marker I found, I decided to check if it worked and scribbled a bit on the paper. Nothing happened. Well no scribbles on paper at least. Why keep a pen that doesn’t work in your desk. I looked at it closely, turned the pen over in my fingers. On the side of it in big bold letters, UV - 2, RED.
I knew it.
Of course. Sometimes I think I might be too dumb to be in the detective business. The pen was a UV pen, it UV ink in red apparently. Only visible under blacklight.
I looked at the seemingly empty whiteboard with new understanding. Invisible ink. That was some real spy shit. All the clues I needed right there hidden in plain sight. Something was definitely going on here.
Like I said curiouser and curiouser, and just like Alice I tumbled down the rabbit hole.   
Damn, how was I going to get my hands on a blacklight

Tears in Rain, A Summer Rain mystery - Chapter 4

4 - Rusalka

It turned out Clay was an accountant, a good one with a nice office, probably with good health benefits including dental I would imagine. Other than that his office didn’t give me much to go on. I mean why would anyone want to hurt a boring accountant. Definitely not for money or notoriety but if Nora was to believed his disappearance had sinister motives and other than my own cynicism I didn’t have any reason to doubt her. On the other hand accountants follow the money for living maybe he had found something he wasn’t supposed to. The people that hide their money usually isn’t the nicest people.
I still thought this case was pretty much an open and shut. Boyfriend with cold feet or a cheating bastard either way common, easy. I wasn’t looking forward to telling Nora whenever I would find my suspicion to be truth/fact. I don’t enjoy getting paid in misery but honestly it is better to know, however devastating the truth might be.
Thing is I learned a long ago, that you have to set aside your own pre drawn conclusions and feelings to find the truth, the real truth, not just your own idea of the truth.
Data is a detective’s best friend, but I didn’t have much evidence to tell me anything about Clay Brand. I had to get to know this man if I wanted to get anywhere fast.

His office was neat and sparse, practical. A nice wooden desk, not unlike my own, facing the door. A comfortable office chair on wheels behind the desk-
To the side were file cabinets and behind the desk on the wall was a whiteboard complete with coloured markers. On the desk was a couple of flat and sleek computer monitors. 
Not much here. I rummaged through what I could. His laptop was not anywhere to be found. There was nothing on the desk really other than neatly stacked office supplies. No nic nacs or personal memorabilia, pictures or anything. Nothing of the man who works here other than a name plaque. I thought it was customary to have a picture of your loved ones on your desk or at least your dog or something. Even I have a picture of my mom on my desk.   

His desk drawers was locked and so was the file cabinet. The whiteboard was wiped clean.
I took out my phone from my pocket, turned on the flashlight option and went over the whiteboard. Nothing, and I mean nothing. Not even a smudge of wiped off colored writing. Like it was never used. Why have a whiteboard in your office if you never use it. And yes I checked the markers, they all worked. Alright maybe the office came with the thing and Clay just wasn’t a whiteboard guy or the cleaners cleaned it and did a really thorough job. It was odd but it could be just that odd. Well then, Clay, let’s check out that locked desk of yours.

The drawers on the desk was nice thick wood with locks on each one. I could try to pick the locks, it would be a shame to break such a nice desk. In the end, after a second of deliberation with myself my impatient side won out. I admit it is not one of my best qualities. So yeah, I broke open the desk, sue me. If Clay really was in trouble I’m sure he wouldn’t mind the damage and I could always pay him back.   
I found a couple of files in manilla folders, I put them on top of the desk in a neat pile. Physical papers in physical folders, old cool. I was starting to see why Nora liked this guy. Another felt marker pen was tucked into the back of the bottom drawer. I put it with the papers on the desk. Next was the file cabinet. The lock broke easily. It was full of neatly packed papers in alphabetical order. That was great if I had any idea of what I was looking for. I closed the cabinet and went to the desk. Something on floor caught my eye. A photograph, it must have falling out from behind one the drawers in the desk.
On it was two men shaking hands looking all buddy buddy. Someone had been nice enough to write their names on the back of the photograph, Clay I imagine. The man to the left was Trent Sterling of Sterling Accounts I gathered.
The other I knew before I read his name. Sure enough that was Sergey Tarasov. the man was basically the Russian mob. Friends with all the right people. The police didn’t dare to touch him. He was careful to never be directly involved in anything illegal. He was a dirtbag but basically human teflon nothing ever stuck. Okay so maybe Nora was right to be worried if Clay was looking into the russian mob and his boss was part of said mob. Ugh, Clay might be in over his head.
There was another note on the photograph. Clay had scribbled the word Russalka under the two names. I was becoming more and more curios. That was a mistake, one in a long line of mistakes. Story of my life.

Millenium city stories - Frozen

I've been writing a lot more lately. Trying to get better disciplined about it and write everyday. So here is another post.

Millenium city stories is stuff from my own super hero world. It started as a setting for my tabletop RPG group and sorta developed from there.
Millenium city is darker than Superman's Metropolis but nicer than Batman's Gotham.
More akin to modern day L.A or the New York of Marvel Comics.


Here goes.

Frozen

I stand at my mirror again, it's been 10 minutes this time, I’m just staring at my reflection. What looks back does not feel like me, That perfect girl is gone. I’m numb. I either empty or angry. I don’t seem capable of any other emotions. Feels like I’m packed in layers of wool or something. Like I’m under water or buried in ice and I can’t find the surface.
I forego the extensive makeup and religious brushing of my hair that used to be part of my morning routine.I’m a pale imitation of what I once was.
It's useless. Stupid, why even bother. It doesn’t matter, it wont change how I feel.
I take a deep breath and push out of the bathroom.

…....

A minute later I’m frozen again. At the foot of my bed, staring at my costume.
I try to recall the feeling the brightly coloured outfit used to give me. Seems like so long ago, like a totally different life. Someone else’s. 
I thought I was a hero. It was all so exciting hanging out with powerful, even god-like people. I felt like a rockstar. It got real so fast and I didn’t even realise how serious it was before it was to late. I lost my dad and it is all my fault. 
I’m not fit to be a hero. I don’t deserve to be. I failed. Failed to protect those close to me.
I cannot bear to look at that childish stupid costume anymore. I grab it off my bed.

…….

I’m in front of garbage the disposal. I’m not trembling, I’m not scared. I’m not even angry. I am resigned to this. I have to let go of childish things like costumed heroes and secret identities.
A literal god told me to let go of the anger. To forgive but I can’t forgive something unforgivable. I can’t let go. If I do it is like I lose him all over again. I won’t forgive because I don’t want to forget. I’m alone in a kingdom of isolation. I can find my rage deep inside, a swirling storm.
I hold my costume out into the open garbage chute and I let it go.

Tears in Rain - a Summer Rain mystery chapter 3

A third short chapter for Summer Rain. It is going to be a long while before chapter 4. 

Tears in Rain Chapter 3 - Occupational hazards

The offices on the 3rd floor was almost empty and I waltzed straight past the receptionist like I belonged there and she didn’t bat an eye at me.
It was one of them open office floor design types, without those classic stuffy cubicles. The few partitions in the room was low walls covered with different green flora there was still a water cooler though. I guess some things in office life doesn’t change. The water receptacle known for its ability to make people wanna gossip was stuffed out of the way in a little nook next to what looked like a small kitchen. Besides the water cooler was a high-tech coffee dispenser with endless combinations of coffee, milks, foams and syrups with every flavour under the sun. I wonder what ever happened to coffee as tar black fuel where the only option was creamer or a lump of sugar.


I skulket through the office space looking for Clay Brand’s desk.
The few people left in Sterling Accounts were either in the process of leaving or staying for a long while working for that overtime check or that big promotion. They either didn’t notice me or simply didn’t care to.


All around the main office space was slightly nicer offices for the big shots that didn’t feel like slumming it in the main area with the common office folk.
The fancy offices was all frosted glass with glass doors to give the illusion of solidarity but they ended up looking more like some weird aquariums. Meant to hold some exotic predators, I guess that might not be that far from the truth if my experience was anything to go on.
I never really cared for office life, mom always said that I wasn’t cut out for it. I tried my hand at temp work to once, my career lasted for about 5 minutes. It definitely wasn’t for me. My told boss told me in no uncertain terms.


I passed a couple of coworkers on their way back to the elevators. They were giggling and whispering excitingly to each other. My detective ears couldn’t help but eavesdrop, I guess it’s a occupational hazard.
They were whispering sweet nothings to each other. But they were talking more of lust than love. One or both was definately cheating on a spouse. I’ve followed dozens of people like that in my professional life. That is most of detective work, seeing lust taint love and break marriages, turn best friends into the worst of enemies. Staring at the decrepitude of man, of men, sometimes seems to be all I do. And you know what they say when you stare into the abyss long enough it tends to look back at you.   
As the couple passed me I heard a delighted yelp,
I looked back and saw the man's possessive hand retreat from the innermost part of the giggling woman’s thigh. I saw his wedding ring. The young woman didn’t have one.
Damn, couldn’t anyone in this city have a nice innocent romance. I’d like to be proven wrong for once..
I can’t help but be cynical but it is hard to remain a romantic in this job.. I thought about Nora. I really hope that woman wasn’t just some disillusioned girlfriend chasing a man that wasn’t what she thought. Maybe this case was different. I thought about the young me and that mess of a girl’s love life.
About Ricky, my first and Rosie, the real one. And all the ones between then and now. So maybe it’s me that isn’t good at romance and I shouldn’t blame my career choices. 
My job though that I’m good at.

It didn’t take me long to find what I was looking. Clay Brandt had a nice corner office. Good for you mr. Brandt, good for you.

Frost mourned

Then:
The news were quick to call the tragedy a victory for justice. The villain had been apprehended by a trio of heroes only moments after throwing Alan Winthrop to his death from a rooftop.
The motives of the crime quickly forgotten by all but those the dead left behind.
Even heroes tend to forget their deeds.
But in this case one of the heroes was also a victim because death does not discriminate and the heroic life El wanted was not the dream she thought it would be.. 

Eliza was a superhero now she might be something else.


Now:
As Eliza Winthrop walks through the halls of her college campus she seems as a ghost, still alive but her old life as dead as her father.
El, was always one of the cool kids, the center of attention. Now she garners another kind of attention. Hushed whispers and stolen glances. Everyone talking about her, but not daring to speak to her. Treating her as some fragile doll. Afraid to say the wrong thing or anything at all. A few people try with a “I’m sorry for your loss” or “It will get better” and they get a monotone “thank you” in return. They shake their heads and walk away.
Some friends stuck around but most didn’t even bother. Eliza used to be carefree and giving to all around her. Throwing money and smiles around to be the center of affection.
Now she is a shell-shocked shadow of herself. Her emotions buried in ice.

She tries not to make eye contact as she walks down the dormitory’s hallway. El holds tight her little sister, she is in turn clutching a teddy bear.  El knocks on Evas door. Her college roomate and superhero partner.
El used to be the local trendsetter, the IT girl. That is gone too. Now you only see her in comfortable clothes and sneakers. Her eyes are puffy from lack of sleep and tears.
“hi, can we talk?” El says eyes downcast as the door opens.
“uhm. moving out dorm. Just came for my things, my laptop and..” she trails off.
“I think I’m taking a sabbatical next term… there is nothing for me here.”
El squeezes her sister a bit tighter. “Anna say hi to my friend Eva”
El ruffles her sister’s hair lovingly but with a quiet desperation in her blue eyes. As she moves part Anna and Eva to enter the dorm room.
Anna takes a step forward, struggling with the stuffed bear. Her arms can barely reach to Eva’s hips. Eva crouch to eye level with the fuzzy toy animal and scratches it behind an ear.
“I like your bear” Anna gives a small smile and Eva gives her a tight hug.in return and whispers “I’m so sorry” 

Eliza awkwardly shuffles on her feet. Her laptop safely back in her bag and a modest necklace with a silver heart locket wrapped around her hand. Her fingers traces the links in the necklace like prayer beads.
“I just kinda wanted to say thanks… I don’t blame you. I’m not mad anymore. I’m just……… I don’t know, empty I guess” she looks Eva in the eyes for the first time.“Thank you for being my friend”
She takes the hand of her sister and turns to leave. She stops in her tracks and extends a hand to Eva in it a blue metal badge..
“I should give you this” El says as she hands Eva her IForce badge. “I’m done; I can’t do this anymore, I’m not hero. Maybe I never was”There is an electronic hum as the badge begins to pulse, then it begins to beep.
El begins to walks away. “you should probably take that”
IForce, we have a situation. Dragonborn do you copy? I have a code Indigo