A light strobed back and forth from the ceiling. Every time it hit the north wall it revealed a man slouched in a pool of blood. On the opposite, a women stood motionless, stern faced and holding a large knife. She tipped her up and looked down at the corpse as the light blinded then illuminated with each swing. She left the small room and set the knife on the counter and waited.
“I killed him” She stated to the detective. “Stabbed, multiple times. Do I feel bad, no, should I?”
The detective across from her took notes with a sullen look on his face. Henry had too little sleep, too much booze and absolutely no patience left for the world. Yet, here he was, taking more cases, grinding the gears once again.
“And why did you kill him again?” he asked staring with his bloodshot eyes.
The women who was in a skin tight blue dress had her arms perpetually folded and a bored look on her face. She spoke matter of factually.
“He was a monster. Not figuratively. Really, he was a monster. Teeth, claws, dark energy, all that. I waited years to gain the courage, but on that night. I knew I had to protect the world. It was time”
“And why that night?”
“It was our anniversary”
Henry exited the questioning room and roamed down the hall for some coffee. A man dressed in a dark blue suit leaned against a cabinet next to the coffee machine. Ned Pentul. Another detective that Henry had known for a long time through all the ups and downs. A pretty straight shooter.
“How come you always get these type of cases? Your a magnet for the crazies Henry.”
Henry poured and downed the cup of coffee then refilled it. He stared at the bulletin board above the coffee machine. A flier was posted at the top right. Printed on green paper, the ad read :
“The greatest wonders you have ever seen! Who knows who anyone is. Who is in control? Who is watching? It’s time to find out.
The world will never be the same!
Friday Night 7 p.m. Central Tower plaza.
Time to open the eye -“
Behind the text was a large light gray building with a crown on top and below the text was a intricate sun with symbols circling the outside of it.
Henry pointed to the flier.
“No clue. I asked around to see who placed it up there,so far no one is claiming it.” Ted leaned in to Henry “I left it up see if I could hear any clues from people. It’s tomorrow night, I’ll keep my ears open”
Henry nodded and made note of where it was taking place. “Thanks, and to your question. I might have an idea, but who knows, maybe it’s my cologne.” he smiled and raised his brows with a shoulder shrug. “Keep me informed, I gotta get back to Miss monster hunter”
He sat back down in front of the lady. She still sat up with her arms crossed, eyes half lidded looking at him.
“You know detective. You think I am making this up. If you have seen the things I have seen, then you would be in the same situation as me. Monsters are every where. Every place that you look, you will see one.” She uncrossed her arms for the first time and leaned forward this time crossing her fingers, resting her elbows on the table. “but I wouldn’t worry, you will see soon”
“Ma’am, you have been convicted and you have admitted to your crimes. I was brought in to find your motive, are you sure you want me to repeat that your husband was a real monster? You have not summoned a lawyer or pleaded anything but guilt. I shouldn’t be surprised, I have seen everything, but this is beyond most.”
“Behind bars, here, would be the safest place until Saturday. I don’t think I will be making it to the jailer, I will take my chances” she smiled. In her head the plan had worked.
“What happens Saturday?”
“Not Saturday, Friday”
The flier flashed in Henrys mind. “What happens on Friday?”
The lady rose her hands and formed a triangle by overlapping her thumbs for the base and connecting her index fingers to the point then held it to her forehead.
“You will see”
Gun shots rang through the agency as Henry unloaded his revolver into the thing. He didn’t know what it was or where it came from. Anything with multiple tentacles, teeth and claws that approached was no friend of his, even if it wore a signature blue jacket. He dropped back and moved towards the holding cells while reloading. For once in his life he wished he had not drank so much the night before. He moved to the middle cell. There she stood, arms crossed, blue dress. A smirk on her face.
“Miss Thompson”
“Call me Sue” her smile grew.
Henry unlocked the cell door and waved her out “Sue, you and I are going to become partners for a moment in time. You know more then your letting on”
“Do say?”
“Yeah, I say.” He moved next room and rummaged through a drawer. He then withdrew a pistol and a couple of magazines. “You can stab, but can you shoot?”
Her hand reached for the pistol and he stopped her.
“Shoot at monsters” he met her eyes with a cold stare. Her eyes portrayed years of tip toeing, manipulating to stay alive and anger. Burning vengeance against creatures that had stolen her joy. It wasn’t just her husband she had seen, it was friends, family, co-workers. Once her eye had been opened she could not shut it. She could see them all.
He let her hand grasp the pistol, she retrieved a bag and put the extra magazines in it.
“All Worlds burn but ours” she checked the safety and racked the slide.
Henry nodded “Ya, I like ours”
I’ve been watching a bit of murder mysteries. Mainly Murder She Wrote and there is a PI named Harry McGraw that Jessica Fletcher meets and becomes a reoccurring character. He seems to be always stuck between a rock and hard place so I drove up some inspiration for our main character Henry here. Overworked, cynical and just going along. I started with the murder, but then when writing this flier hopped into my mind, an event, maybe something that proves that this weird tale might be true?
In the end Henry gains a uncommon ally and partner in Sue Thompson. Will they be able to survive and escape?
Maybe!
Cheers and stay warm out there if you are in a cold climate. Snow be approaching.