“Fine,” she replied. “See you later.” She put the phone down, picked her briefcase up, and left the office.
As she drove to the diner, she tried to work out what was going on. Why would someone break into Chris’s safe to steal her gun? She was obviously being framed—or was someone trying to frame Chris? Why go to the trouble of returning the gun? The more she ran it around in her head, the less sense she made of it all. Maybe Coop could shed some light on it for her. Okay, worst case scenario, he has no idea and can’t make any sense of it either. At least her hunger pangs would be satisfied after a juicy cheeseburger. There she went again, thinking about food. “What the fuck is wrong with me?” she said out loud.
***
The diner was relatively quiet when Maria entered. She noted there were only six customers in the place, and not one of them was wearing a cop uniform. She took her usual seat at the counter. Beth walked out of the kitchen into the dining area carrying a coffee pot; a coffee pot that Maria was certain was surgically attached to the waitress’s hand.
“Good afternoon, sweetie,” she said, as a mug magically appeared in front of Maria and she started pouring. “What can I get you?”
“Cheeseburger, please,” she requested.
“Do you want fries with that?”
“Please,” she confirmed, and before she had a chance to say anything else, the waitress had gone into the kitchen. She looked around to see if she could spot Coop anywhere. “Is Coop around?” she shouted through to the kitchen, but got no answer so she waited patiently.
Beth returned shortly with the cheeseburger she had been craving most of the day. Her mouth began to salivate the moment she saw it. She stared wild-eyed at the fare as it approached, picking up her cutlery that was neatly wrapped in a napkin, which she swiftly removed before the burger was placed in front of her. She stabbed a few fries with her fork and eagerly placed them in her mouth. With her mouth full, she addressed the burly waitress.
“Thanks, Beth, I’ve been looking forward to this all day.” She chewed and swallowed, and grabbed a few more fries with her fingers. She had decided against using the cutlery. “Hey, where’s Coop?”
“Well, ain’t that the million-dollar question right there?” she replied, as she took a cloth from the pouch of her apron and began wiping down the counter. “You know what that silly old fool is like; he thinks he’s some kind of James Bond.”
Maria stopped chewing and looked straight at her. “Do you mean he’s working a case?”
The waitress held her cloth aloft. “He’s always up to something. He says he isn’t, but I know that look he has in his eye. I’ve seen it too many times over the years.”
Maria swallowed the food she had been chewing, rummaged in her bag to fish out her phone, and dialed Coop. The call was answered almost immediately. “Hey, old man, what are you up to?”
“Oh, hi, I’m just working on something,” he replied.
She picked up a few fries and began chewing them as she spoke. “Are you going to be long? I have some stuff I want to run by you.”
“Listen, I’ve been working a hunch, and I think I’ve come up with something. I was just about to call you.” He paused for a moment. “I’ve got a kid matching the description of the other kids, and I also have a guy acting a bit suspicious. Same MO as last time.”
Maria froze. “You have another potential kidnap situation?”
“That’s why I was about to call you. Can you get here?” he asked.
“Holy fuck, old man. Where are you?” She was panicked now.
“Sunny Glades Theme Park.” He paused and lowered his voice. “Yeah, something is very wrong here. I think you’d better hightail it over.”
“Stay put; don’t do anything stupid. I’m on my way.” She stood up and shouted to Beth, “I’ve got to go!” before throwing ten dollars on the counter and grabbing a bite of her burger.
“Hey, if you see that bum, tell him to get his ass back here. My shift finishes in an hour!” Beth yelled after her.
Maria raised her hand above her head and waved in acknowledgement. She rushed to her car and was soon racing to the theme park. Traffic was beginning to build up on the roads. She was pondering turning on the blues and twos but decided against it, opting instead to drive erratically in and out of the slow-moving traffic. Her phone rang. She pressed a button on her steering wheel, activating the hands-free.
Coop’s voice came over the car audio: “Hey, get here now. It’s going down.”
The Genesis Chamber
Chapter 29
“What’s happening?” Maria was frantic. The traffic was building up and becoming more congested. She quickly checked over her left shoulder and swerved the car into the outside lane, enabling her to jump another space in the ever increasing procession of slow-moving vehicles. She ignored the car horns that blasted at her.
“The guy I said was acting suspiciously has made contact with the kid and he’s leading him towards the parking lot.” Coop relayed the events as they were unfolding. “You’d better get here fast, Maria.”
Taking the decision that this was an emergency, she flicked a switch on the center console, activating the blues and twos. “On my way. Stay on the line. I’m going to radio in for backup. Are you sure this is another abduction?”
“Roger that, it’s exactly the same as last time.” Coop said. “They’re heading towards the Pink Flamingo parking lot.”
With the sirens wailing and the lights flashing, Maria was making good headway. Cars were swerving out of the way to let her pass. She could see a clearing in the traffic and went for it. Managing to squeeze in, she grabbed her radio. “This is Unit Forty-one, requesting immediate backup at Sunny Glades Theme Park.”
“This is dispatch. Roger that, Unit Forty-one.” The metallic-sounding voice drowned out the roar of her engine as she accelerated. “All units in the vicinity of Sunny Glades Theme Park respond immediately to an officer in need of assistance.”
“Coop, are you there?” she shouted into the hands-free. “I’ve got backup on the way. I’m about three minutes away. Do not do anything stupid.”
***
The retired officer kept a safe distance while he followed the suspect and the kid to the parking lot. He noticed that the area had been taped off, indicating it was closed to the public. His quarry momentarily went out of sight as they rounded a corner. He scurried over to the corner and poked his head around. The suspect was guiding the kid with his hand placed between his shoulder blades. He appeared to be in deep conversation with the boy and gestured wildly with his free hand. If Coop didn’t know better, he would think the guy was telling the kid a story as they walked towards the only vehicle in the parking lot. It was a white panel van.
He put his phone to his ear. “Okay, the guy is taking the kid towards a vehicle. A white panel van. Did you get that?”
“Copy that,” she confirmed. “I’m entering the park now. I’ll be there in a minute. Backup is five minutes out. Shit!” He heard the screeching of tires.
“What?” He took his eyes off the suspect for a second as he waited to hear from her. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s a detour.” She sounded frustrated. “I’m going to have to go around the—”
“No time, Maria,” he said with some urgency, and looked back at the suspect. They were nearly at the white van. “It’s going down; I’m going to have to make a move.”
“No. Wait for me! Do not. I repeat, do not make a move without me.” He heard the sound of screeching tires again and the engine roar; she was obviously moving again.
He looked on in horror as the kid walked out of sight with the suspect. They had gone around the side of the van. Decision time, he told himself, and quickly scanned the area to see if anyone else was around, anyone who could offer some assistance. No one. He was alone with them.
Taking a deep breath, he un-holstered his weapon and rushed towards the van. He could see their feet underneath the van and surmised a
struggle had broken out by the way they were seemingly dancing round. With no time to waste he rushed around the front of the vehicle.
“Freeze! Don’t move! Let me see your hands!” he barked, as he edged towards them and brought the phone up so he could talk to Maria. “I’ve got the son of a bitch.”
“Okay. Just hold him, I’m almost with you!” he heard her reply.
He stood about seven feet away from them with his gun trained on the suspect. As the perp put his hands up the kid edged his way along the side of the van, then, without warning, took off running.
“No! Wait! Come back!” Coop hollered after him. “I’m a cop!” He waited for a moment to see if the kid had stopped but no, all he could hear was the sound of his sneakers squeaking on the tarmac as he ran faster and faster.
Can’t take my eyes off this guy, he told himself, but he wanted to see where the kid was running to so he could send backup after him when they arrived. He glanced over his shoulder for a split-second and something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. Something moved. Was it the suspect? He whipped his head back towards him. It wasn’t the perp.
Coop was startled by the sight of a wolf mask behind the suspect. His heart raced. Had he miscalculated the situation by being overzealous? What was that? He looked over the shoulder of the suspect and saw the muzzle of a nine millimeter pointing straight at him.
He tried to react, but everything seemed to be going in slow motion. Before he could say anything into the phone he saw the flash from the gun. A feeling of surrealism overtook him when the gun fired; his hearing was muffled and his sight was blurred. The only thing he was completely certain of was the searing pain in his chest.
Through sheer instinct he pulled his trigger, firing a shot into the chest of the suspect, who fell against the side of the van and slid to the ground. He then tried to fire another round off at the wolf, but nothing happened. He felt numb. He couldn’t feel the weapon in his hand. Something was wrong. He fell to his knees, dropping his weapon and the phone. His whole body felt heavy as he slumped to the ground, rolling onto his back.
The sound of his labored breathing and slowing heartbeat was all he could hear as he looked up at the cloudless blue sky. He started to drift.
“Coop! Coop!” Was that Maria’s voice he could hear? He rolled his head to the left and saw the phone, which had hit the ground and bounced under the van. A shadow swept over him. He looked back towards the sky, but his view was blocked by the wolf mask.
He was kneeling next to the dying cop, staring silently into his eyes. Without making a sound, he gently grabbed Coop’s hand and replaced his gun in it.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Coop managed to whisper.
“Shhh…” he hissed, and raised the hand to point the gun at the dying suspect a few feet away. Then he squeezed the finger on the trigger to fire a shot into the suspect’s head, sending his baseball cap flying across the parking lot.
He’s covering his tracks, Coop thought. With his last ounce of energy he reached up and grabbed the mask, ripping it off the killer’s face.
Shock and terror engulfed his body as he stared wide-eyed at a face he recognized.
“Oh God! Not you!” was all he could muster with his dying breath.
The wolf replaced his mask and slowly stood up, all the time staring into the dying eyes of Coop. With no sign of emotion he raised his weapon and fired a shot into Coop’s heart.
The distant sound of wailing sirens began to fill the air. He surveyed the scene for a moment, then placed his gun in the dead suspect’s hand and calmly walked away, leaving the dead suspect and the lifeless body of James “Coop” Cooper behind him.
The Genesis Chamber
Chapter 30
The setting sun cast a burnt orange glow on the log cabin, making it look as though it was on fire to anyone passing by; but, nobody ever passed by. The gentle sound of the water lapping against the dock, the occasional splash from catfish playing just below the surface of the water, and the ever-present humming of bugs were the only sounds that broke the silence of the swamp. Inside, the mood was less tense than previous nights there.
The wolf perused his collection of vinyl records, performing his usual ritual of sliding his index finger across the spines of the covers before making his choice, finally deciding on his favorite, Ella Fitzgerald. He gently tugged at the cover and slid it from between the other records. He inspected the cover, then flipped it over to read the track list.
“Aha,” he said aloud, and nodded to himself in appreciation of his choice.
He delicately retrieved the vinyl disc from the cover and placed it on the player, lowered the needle, and stepped back to listen to the haunting lyrics of “Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall.”
Into each life some rain must fall
But too much is falling in mine
As the music filled the air, he slowly let his head fall back and looked towards the ceiling. With his eyes closed he gently swayed to the rhythm, lost in the moment.
Into each heart some tears must fall
But someday the sun will shine
Some folks can lose the blues in their hearts
But when I think of you another shower starts
Into each life some rain must fall
But too much is falling in mine
He suddenly took a sharp intake of breath and snapped out of his trance. There was work to be done. He walked to the kitchen and tended to a pan that was simmering on the stove. He examined the thermometer that rested in the gooey, bubbling liquid.
“It’s time,” he mumbled, and took the pan off the heat.
With a spatula in one hand and wearing an oven glove to carry the pan on the other, he made his way into the dining area, stopping every few steps to have a little dance on the spot. There were no guests that night; he was alone.
He placed the pan on the table next to a bust and flopped into the chair to face the cast. The atmosphere grew solemn as he stared at the sculpture in front of him. The lifeless features were barely recognizable, but he knew when he had finished his work that the mask would be an exact copy of a face he knew so well. His mind drifted again as he thought about the recent events that had led him to this point. He also knew that what was to come would take its toll on him. The cold-blooded slaying of the retired cop and the pedophile was one step closer to his goal. The vision of the bodies he left in the parking lot was etched on his mind.
Click-click… click-click… click-click. He snapped out of his daydream.
The record had finished playing and the needle bounced back and forth, waiting to be taken off the vinyl. He rose from his seat and switched the player off, sending the log cabin into a deathly silence. He returned to the sculpture, loaded the spatula with the goo from the pan, and started to apply it to the face. He stopped abruptly and dropped the spatula. What was this? he thought to himself. Beneath his wolf mask he felt the warm trickle of a tear rolling down his left cheek. Without taking the mask off, he slid his finger beneath it and wiped the tear away.
“Not long now,” he said, as he picked the spatula up and continued to apply the mixture. “I hope the Cooper family will be able to handle what’s coming.”
The Genesis Chamber
Chapter 31
The John McMillan Cemetery was packed with mourners. Maria estimated around five to six hundred people. She also figured about four hundred of those were cops, or people with connections to the police. The sun beating down made wearing customary black attire extremely uncomfortable, and the formal ceremonial police uniform that she was currently wearing made her fidget now and again.
Although Coop had been retired for years, the top brass had made the decision that, because he had maintained a close affiliation to the police department and had been killed saving a kid from being kidnapped, or worse, that he should be buried with full police honors, including a twenty-one gun salute. Bracing herself for the first round of shots, she straightened up and tilted
her head slightly back, but kept her eyes on the casket. Raising her white gloved hand in a salute as the salvo was fired, she found it hard to fight back the tears, and was grateful for the privacy that her Oakley wraparound sunglasses afforded her.
Her thoughts went back to that afternoon, and the sight of Coop lying on the ground. How she ran from her car trying to get to him as quickly as possible, to cradle him, to hold him. “I’m here,” she kept saying to him, but he was gone.
The second salvo startled her and made her jump. The smell from the salvo reminded her of the stench of gunpowder that had been in the air.
The sound of the third and final salvo was too much for her. Still saluting, her bottom lip began to quiver. Tears now flowed freely down both cheeks. Through blurred vision she watched the plumes of smoke from the rifles drift away in the gentle breeze like a ghostly spirit leaving a body and vanishing into the atmosphere. She snapped her gloved hand away from her temple and returned her arm to her side to stand at attention. This was surreal to her. She had gone into a form of autopilot, and wasn’t really fully aware of what she was doing. To lose a brother or sister in uniform was emotional for any cop, and she had in this situation, and so many times before—too many times before. But to lose someone who was so close to you was devastating, and this time it was more personal.
Her thoughts turned to Andy. She looked over at her partner. He was sitting next to his mom, Cathleen, staring at his father’s casket. Jen sat next to him, sandwiched between her parents, who were trying to comfort their daughter, but she was inconsolable. On the other side of Cathleen sat Chris and Amber, both of whom were sobbing. Maria noted that the only two that were not showing any form of emotion were Andy and his mother. It must be Coop’s influence on them, she thought to herself. “Never show your hand under any circumstances,” he had once told her.
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