The Beginning of the End

The Beginning of the End 8

“Damnit, where is my coffee,” roared the Chief from his office, he knew this was going to be a s**t storm and he was determined to be braced and ready for it when it hit. One of the deputies walked through the door just as the phone rang on his desk, the Chief’s face reddened, and he slowly counted to 10 before answering it. “Chief Lakes,” he said as the deputy sat the cup down and left the office, “Hello Mr. Mayor, don’t worry I have my best people on this, and we will have the shooter in custody in a few days at the most.” There was silence in the office as he listened, “I assure you I have my best people on it, I sent Detective Aspin to talk to the teacher, kitten, crip, cat, what ever his name is, and she should be reporting back soon. I doubt he will know much, but he is new to town, and this could have followed him here from wherever he came from.” There was another pause as the mayor spoke again, “Yes Ma’am, I have a deputy doing a background check on him as we speak, he is an arrogant, cocky, son of a,” he caught himself, “Um gun, but we will have some answers for you and the town in twenty-four hours. You have my word on that.” The Chief stood there listening for a few more minutes, then hung the phone up when the line went dead. He sat at his desk and just stared at the wall.

“Anderson,” the Chief bellowed, and a small wiry man appeared in the doorway, “Has Lakes reported back in yet and where is the background on that damn teacher Pits?” The young man adjusted his glasses, “Well, no Chief, she hasn’t, and I was not aware you wanted a background check done on Mr., Katz.” The Chief’s face began to redden again, his Dr, had been telling him he needed to stop getting so stressed out or it could lead to a stroke if he didn’t, so once again he paused to count. “Do I have to think of everything,” he said slowly through gritted teeth, “Find Aspin and get me that damn background. This was a nice quiet little town until this morning and now it is a s**t storm. I am sure he is mixed up in it somehow.” Anderson nodded and vanished from the doorway, the Chief swiveled his chair around and looked out the window, nature always calmed him, but he was surprised to see how many ravens had gathered in the trees right outside the station.

Aspin walked through the door, blowing on her cup of hot tea and was intercepted bye Anderson, “Hello Detective,” he said as he approached her, “How did the interview with Mr. Katz go?” He followed as she went to her desk, “It was routine, Anderson, the basic questions plus a few others I thought of while on my way to his house. I will type up my report and have it ready in about an hour and get it to you.” Anderson listened, nodding in relief, “Have you done a background on him? The Chief wants one A.S.A.P.” She sat down and looked at him, noticing the sheen of sweat covering his receding hair line, “No I wasn’t planning on doing one, but I will do it as soon as my report is finished. Will there be anything else?” The little man shook his head then turned and left, Aspin watched him as he did so thinking to herself that the poor man would be better as a librarian or postal worker. ‘He sure isn’t cut out for the stress of this job,’ she thought as she started up her computer to get to work on the report.