Page 1 of Knight

Prologue

Menace

It’s been a hell of a day; one where I got here late in the afternoon because I had meetings. One of the things I’ve learned since accepting the Chief of Police position two months ago is that it’s a lot of shit I hadn’t planned on. It’s keeping people happy and kissing a lot of ass. Although I took the position so long ago, I’m only on my second official day.

My legs ache to get back out on the street, to do a couple of laps around downtown or to drive a car fast; to chase a speeder with the lights bright and the siren blaring. I miss it more than I thought I would–especially this early on in the tenure.

It’s close to midnight, and I know Rina will be wondering where the hell I am, but I wanted to get a look at what went on today by reading the reports of the officers. This is something I do every day so I can try to gauge how my officers are doing. It’s important for me to know if there’s an issue in town, if someone is a nuisance, if we need to step up patrols in certain areas. I started doing it as soon as I got the position.

Community policing is the name of my game, and I take it seriously.

Reading the last report which was submitted by Caleb, I reach up to rub my tired eyes. I can’t wait to crawl in bed with my wife, and tomorrow we’re supposed to get a couple grandkids. Being a grandfather is one of the most rewarding things that’s ever happened to me. I enjoy it even more than being a father, which says a lot.

I love being a father.

But there’s something about the eyes of my grandkids that look up at me like I’ve hung the moon. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe and happy.

Levering my tired body up out of my seat, I begin locking up when Archer comes running into my office.

“Hey, you’re gonna wanna hear this 911 call that just came in. I was about to sign off for the night, but I think something happened on Tremmel Creek Road.”

Now he’s got my attention. Tremmel Creek has maybe five houses on it. We’ve never been called out there. One of the things most cops will tell others is there’s a sixth sense to some calls. You know before you even take it that it’s going to be different than any of the others you’ve ever been on.

That feeling is causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand at attention.

“Play me the call.”

He pulls out his phone, going to an app we got recently so that we could listen to calls in real time if it appears there’s going to be a threat to an officer.

What I hear puts fear into my heart. There aren’t any words spoken, but there’s something happening in the background, and then a gunshot. That’s when the call drops. “Did they call back?” I ask, putting my jacket on.

“They did, but there was no answer. Officers are en route.”

There are moments in life where, if you’ve lived it long enough, you know there’s a change coming – whether it be for you, or someone else.

This change?

I think it’s for us all.

“Let's get out there. You drive, while I try to figure out what the fuck’s going on.”

*****

When we get to the home the emergency call came from, that same weird feeling is all over everything. My son stands in the doorway, looking shell-shocked.

“What do we have going on?”

He glances up, seeming to have aged a couple of years since I last saw him. “Two dead; a husband and wife. They were both shot by what appears to be an intruder. Whoever it was came through the back door – there’s glass everywhere. From all accounts there was a teenage girl here, and she’s gone.”

“What?” I flinch as if he’s hit me. “Are you sure she isn’t hiding? I mean, somebody came in here and killed her parents, maybe she’s hiding and is waiting until she knows it’s okay to come out.”

“We thought the same thing,” Ransom says as he walks up to us with Rambo on his leash. “Rambo lost her scent at the access road.”

“Son of a bitch. She got in a car.”

“Or she was forced,” he confirms. “Rambo was on her like his ass was on fire, and then he lost her. Looked up at me like I was gonna be able to tell him where the fuck she went.”

“Do we have any idea who this was?” I question, the beginning of a headache working its way up my neck.

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