A short story from 2001, featuring many of the original Lineone Happy Hour users as characters.
Created by 'Wind Dancer', Dyan Scott
This page is dedicated to the memory of Jonathan Knight, a.k.a. Jedi Knight (J. Knight) who passed away peacfully in his sleep, aged 24, early in February 2002, following a rare illness. Jonathan was recently engaged and has a young daughter. Jonathon had a passion for Sci Fi, in particular Star Wars and BladeRunner. He was also a keen backpacker and often travelled the world for artwork and photographs. His Fiancée is a professional photographer.
This manuscript in no way means to harm nor insult the individuals of HappyHour or any other forum. any similarity to persons or events is purely coincidental. The writer is not responsible for actions taken based on the story.
The people presented in this story in no way reflect the people of the Happy Hour or any other similar forum. The people represented are purely fictional and any likeness to persons or events is purely coincidental. This story is created out of fun, because the author enjoys writing and in no way means to offend nor harm the individuals of said forums.
With that out of the way, lol, we shall continue. As most know in here, I'm off for a few days camping, but Linda asked this morning about the soap, so I decided to set the ball rolling and allow speculation to form 🙂 the cast was narrowed down to 22 people. For the sake of anti-favoritism, I've discluded myself. The following people will at one point or another show up in the story: Bagpuss, Cockney Sparrer, Druss, FlyingNun+, GreySwan, The Grinch, Jedi Knight, Lord Mark Bowman, Panerai, Parsnip, Paul Uk86, Pmj, Rabbit, Scrumpyjill, Shadow Walker, Sue, The Kat, The Occupier, Ticketty-Boo, Tweetiepie, Weatherman, and Webrex. Most of these people I've spoken with and know something about, or have asked specifically to be in my plot. If anyone is upset at the "final cuts," I am sorry for the insult or offense, maybe after this one, if people like it, I'll do another 🙂 Just remember, even if you weren't written in, I still luv ya!!
I would sincerely like to thank all the readers for all the support I've received for MM@HH. You guys are what makes the story. Without readers, the story would not be read, and then it would be nothing more than a glimmer of a memory. Thank you all. Also, a special thanks to Paul Uk86, Panerai, The Kat, and Bagpuss for not protesting my killings or near-killings of them. And thanks to the detectives, Druss and Jedi Knight. Thank you to Mark Bowland, who's yet to say anything about being the killer. thank you to the supporting cast as well 🙂 luv you all, your faithful author, Windy.
© "Murder at Happy Hour" is copywrited by Dyan Scott, 2001. Any illegal use of said story will be severely prosecuted. Be advised.
It's short, but what I will write today is just the set up, so that you know a very few of the characters and the beginnings of the plot... but speculation shall set in!! Just who is the murderer? Why did she or he do it? Will there be another? Who is a suspect? hehehe, god, i love it!! Till my pen meets paper next, Windy.
Episode 1
It's dark, streetlamps have been shot out, no moon brightens the sky. Outside, police cars surround, headlights illuminating the body lying facedown beside the steps of the Happy Hour Pub and Tavern.
It's Easter, the Tavern is closed. Detective Druss arrives onscene and gets a briefing from his partner, J. Knight, before crossing to the body. He crouches, checks for a pulse to pound through the latex of his glove. Nothing. He fists his hand, looks up at his partner, and shakes his head, "Dead."
Knight raises an eyebrow, "And why else would we be here?" His hands slide into his pockets.
Druss shakes off the comment and turns the corpse to check it's pockets. He finds a wallet, brown, simple leather, and pulls from it a driver's liscence, "Name's Paul U.K. Atesiks. By the looks of it, cause of death would be a shot through the heart." With a cocky grin, he glances up again, "I'd say we have ourselves a murder, Knight."
"And you were expecting tea?" Knight chuckles and jots down the man's name.
Episode 2
In the coroner's office, the lights are dim, florescent bulbs, casting thin light where it is needed. Dr. Rabbit's typing notes into a computer on the far side from where a body lies beneath a white sheet. It lies on a metal cart; the wheels squeak as it was pulled from cold storage.
Enter Knight and Druss. Druss crosses to Rabbit and asks, "What have you got?" Knight, in turn, wanders to the body and pulls the sheet back to reveal the face.
Dr. Rabbit looks up through wide, wire rimmed glasses, then turns back to his notes, "Two rounds to the chest, .35 calibre. Didn't leave much for the kid to survive on." He hits the page down button and scrolls through the text, "Hit left chambers of the heart with the first round, likely took out a lung with the second."
"Wasn't a quick death," knight murmers and recovers the corpse. "Suffered a while before either his lungs gave out or he lost too much blood." His hands slide into his pockets as he goes over possibilities in his head. Did the killer stay and watch Paul die? If so, how long did he stay? Knight's head snaps up, "Time of death?"
"At or around midnight. Give or take a few minutes."
Druss nods in understaning as his partner's thoughts fall into place, "Easter Sunday at midnight outside one of the most known and respected Pub in the city."
"He wasn't out buying candy," Knight grins, ever the joker.
"No, indeed," Druss mutters. "Let's see if we can get P. M. Jay's cooperation on this." He leaves the office, trench swirling in his wake.
Knight flips Rabbit a smile and mouths, "Thanks, mate," before following.
In a lushly decorated house, a knock sounds at the door. The sound jolts Peter Michael Jay, better known as P. M. Jay, a computer whiz and computer game programmer, from his concentration on his laptop, putting him in a foul mood. He stomps to the door, flings it open. Lamplight spills onto the porch and he growls, "Have you any idea what time it is? I oughta--" He stops, realizing who's standing there beneath the burnt-out bulb of his porchlight and clears his throat, "I was just, uh, finishing up, come in, please."
He steps back, allows the detectives through. Druss cocks a brow, "Well?"
"Yes, well," Jay clears his throat again, and hurries into the next room, clicking on lamps as he goes. He practically bounds into his chair and makes the computer slide to one side in his dash. It hits a bowl of lupins in water and sends them crashing to the ground, the water sloshing over the detectives' shoes.
Druss yanks him from the chair and growls, "Watch it, mate. I don't fancy walking in squishy shoes."
Knight steps between and unlocks the fingers clenching Jay's shirt, "Easy, Druss, was an accident. Let's see what he has on Atesiks." Pleased when the shirt's released and Jay plops into a chair, Knight shakes his head and laughs, ready to get back to business.
"Yes, well," Jay scrolls through the info he's compiled and begins to read, "Paul Unnis Kennedy Atesiks was a single, middle-aged man with a lot of problems from the looks of it. He grew up as an outsider, was teased, until he fought back. After that, it's as though he fought first from then on. "Last incident...was with Line1 Inc. Seems he had a problem with the service they were or weren't providing. Got into someone's face down there, was reported," Jay glances up for approval.
Knight's wheels are already turning. A spit over service? would he have gotten shot for that? And if so, by whom? A hitman, or the president himself??
Jay continues, seeing no pass of emotion over the faces behind him, "The incident before that was with a rockstar, Webrex--that's all he goes by--seems they got in a spat over the star's wife, Sue Webrex. Looks like Sue and Paul were good, good friends, Detectives, to the point where he'd tried to get her to leave Webrex."
"Why?" Druss asks.
"Doesn't say, sir."
Love? Druss wondered, "Okay, anything else?"
Jay looks through the information, "Aye. A run-in with a Tavern down the Road called HappyHour. Barfight of sorts. I guess he liked the looks of a waitress, um, Cindy Piestand aka Tweetiepie, got her name changed last year. Himself came down to toss Atesiks out."
"Himself?" Knight inquires, "As in Mark Bowman himself?"
"Yep."
"Anything else, Jay?" Druss asks, looking slightly bored.
"There's tons, sir," Jay boots up the printer, staples the sheets of paper and hands them to the detective. Druss takes it and marches out, his patience too thin to stay any longer.
Knight, again, assumes cleanup. "Thanks," he claps Jay on the shoulder and heads for the door. Before passing through it, he turns and says to Jay, who's now smiling, "He's really not that bad, you just have to look for his goodside."
Episode 3
Three days later, Happy Hour Pub and Tavern is reopened, the yellow tape removed and people flow in due to the publicity. The lighting is bright and just a little hazy from cigarettes. People group around tables, stand, play pool, or sit at the bar. There are too many people and the staff is working double time. The green tiled floor shines with cleaness and the tables are rich mahogany, reflecting the owner's taste.
From behind the bar, Sue Webrex serves some cider to a woman with a leather jacket, "Scrumpies" written in slashing white across the back. Sue smiles and laughs at something the girl said, "Yeah, he'll be down in a few...usually takes a nightcap about seven."
The biker glances at her wristwatch, "Well, it's half past, I wonder where he--well, speak of the devil."
A hush falls over the tavern until Mark Bowman steps off the last stair. People begin laughing and shaking his hand again as he makes his way to the bar. Stepping up beside the biker, he grins at Sue, "A stella, please."
He turns to the biker, "How are you doing, Jill? Enjoying yourself?"
She looks him up and down, "Well, not yet, handsome, but I'm sure you could help me out, eh?"
They both break into laughter at the long-time joke, Mark finally saying, "Always always, Jill. God, I love this girl!" He wraps a thick arm around her neck and noogies her, Jill shrieking as normal. The patrons ignore this as usual; they've seen it before.
Sue grins and turns to the waitress, who's rapid fire orders are being filled just as quickly, "It's a madhouse out there, eh, Tweetie?"
"Yeah, and lucky me, I got the floor. At least you don't have to wear these silly heels all night," Tweetie looks down at her feet and sighs.
"No one's going to see my shoes, Tweets. Here's number 3, hun, get going. Looks like 8's got an order too." She sends Tweetie off with a smile and turns back to her employer. "Have a seat?"
"Naw," Mark replies. "I think I'll go join Greyson over there in a game of pool. You know how he loves it when I call him Greyson." He grins and saunters off.
Sue shakes her head at both of them, and out of the corner of her ear, she hears someone ask how her boyfriend's doing. She turns to answer and finds Tina Boo standing at the bar. "Ticketty!" She shrieks and hops the bar to embrace her old friend. "Hey, girl, how you been?"
Tina grins at the nickname, which she'd acquired in college, due to her last name. "Oh it's good to see you, Tick. Where have you been? What have you been up to?"
Sue holds Tina at armslength to examine her. "Good to see you. Around. Nothing lately." Tina answers the questions in succession, not pausing for a breath and then asks, "What's it take for a girl to get a drink around here?"
Sue skirts the bar again and begins mixing Tina's drink, "I heard you and Grey were tight now."
"We got married three months ago, yes," Tina watches her friend's mouth drop, the drink spill from her hand. "I guess you could call me Tina Swan."
"My god!" Regaining her voice, Sue's words come out slowly, "I didn't even know."
Over her shoulder, Tweetie sets a drink down, knowing full well that Sue's forgotten Tina's order, and pecks Boo on the cheek, "Nice to see you again, Ticketty. Congrats on the marriage."
"Thanks, sis." Tina turns back to the bartender, "We eloped--his family kept getting in the way. If there was a way to have told you, I would have, but there was nothing, Sue. I'm sorry."
Sue plants her elbows on the marble surface, "Are you happy? Nevermind, I can see that you're happy. Dumb question. Well congrats, hun!" She wiggles her eyebrows in Grey's direction, "Maybe I should go kiss the groom."
"Go for it."
Meanwhile, across the pub, Mark and Grey are in heated debate over the game. Grey's face is red and his hand furiously points to the table, "You said eight in the side. That is eight in the corner. You know the rules, pay up."
Enjoying the debate, Mark leans on his cue, "In your dreams. I said high corner. You pay up."
Grey grabs Mark's suit collar, "You lying, cheating, S.O.B...god it's good to be back!"
He let's Mark down and grins, "Scared you."
"Did not," Mark replies. "I'm older and stronger than you."
"Well, you're half right," Grey rolls his eyes and sinks the 3-ball in the corner pocket. "So what's this I hear about a murder, Mark?"
Mark lifts a shoulder, "Some bloke died outside a few nights ago. Nothing big."
Grey keeps his mouth shut, knowing that that's all he'll get out of Mark. "2 in corner. I sink it, this is my game and you own me fifty."
"Bring it on."
Episode 4
Across town, there's a party going on. Gina Panerai's mansion is decked out in lights and candles, the white walls shining gloriously against the shafts of cozy firelight. She sweeps through the room, a glass of merlot in her hand, and smiles, kissing cheeks and clasping hands before she comes up beside the one and only Webrex. Him she kisses full on the mouth, his hands running down her sides, "Hiya Handsome, how's the cold?"
He snorts and rolls his eyes, "Has me in bed as far as Sue's concerned." They laugh together and fall into hushed conversation. A couple dances passed them, the woman chattering on to the silent husband, who's counting steps. He grunts and pulls her off to the side to where another couple stands, Casey Sparrer and a man who's known and has always been known as the Weatherman.
Casey glances over, "Enjoying the party, T.O.? Parsnip?"
T.O. grunts again and rolls his eyes, while Parsnip jumps in with her chatter, "Oh isn't it just glorious? And look at the lights? Look at that wallpaper! Talk about amazing. Gina always throws one heck of a party. I wonder where she is? Last year, she threw this party--"
Used to this, the Weatherman turns back to Casey, "I believe we'll have sun tomorrow, from the cloud system working it's way in, we'll have rain by the end of the week."
Casey says an mmm hmmm and asks T.O., "Have a dance?"
T.O. smiles and steps back for her to lead the way, leaving Parsnip to chatter on in front of the Weatherman, who stares fixidly out the window, "--and Carrot, Sweet Pea and Squash, those are my kids, like to play in the pool because it's water, of course, they're only sprouts. They just love doing that sort of thing, T.O. and I laugh about it being like they're watering themselves..." she continues.
Bea Puss stands and stretches from the chair she's been sitting in most of the night. Linda Alexis smiles over at her from the fire, "You look tired, hun."
"Naw," Bea scrunches her nose and yawns, "just lazy. What do you say I steal to the kitchen and see if Cook will find us some cocoa??"
Linda stands, "You're not leaving me here. I'll go with you." Together, they troop off through the crowd.
Steps away from the swinging kitchen door, it flies open and Frank Nun flies through, white as a ghost, "B-b-b-b--" he faints onto Linda, who gives him a puzzled look and lays him on the floor.
Webrex breaks through the crowd, eyes wide, "Have you seen Gina? She said she was headed to the kit--what the heck happened to Nun?"
"He just burst and and flop, onto the floor," Bea responds.
By now, the crowd has created a tight ring around the trio and man on the floor. Parsnip can be heard in the background chattering, "Well, maybe she needed to use the loo, with all that wine she drinks, I wouldn't be surprised. That's precisely why I don't drink, too much loo-ing and on top of that, you get drunk! If you're totally sloshed, you sound funny when you talk and then no one wants to be around you and as for him maybe he saw a bug. I always faint when I see a bug and bug starts with 'b' too, you know.."
Bea pushes through the door by herself, curious. She looks around, calls for Cook, "Hello? Is anyone in here?" She moves behind the main island counter and just about steps in a red slash across the room.
"Blood," she whispers, the iron smell rising to envelope and make her stomach twist. Carefully, Bea steps around, looking for the end of the rainbow. She finds it, in the pantry, a body facedown, garbed in purple sequins. A butcher knife sticks out crudely from between the shoulder blades. "Gina Panerai, what have you gotten yourself into?" she asks before yelling to call the cops.
Episode 5
Mark Bowland sighs and sits in his chair, facing the window. He stretches and reaches for his brandy. The liquid swirls as he sinks into thought. The news reported two bodies, the one outside the HHP&T and a new one in the Panerai Mansion. He thinks about who was at the tavern, who could be the killer. Jill? he thinks. She is part of a motorcycle gang. Maybe she and her buddies got together for a ride and went a little to far. Sue? It is public knowledge that her husband is--or was--cheating on her. Did she leave the pub at all that night?
He wanders to the people who were supposedly at the party. Frank Nun? News travels fast and word has it, he found Panerai first. He could have murdered her and hidden her, then played the coward when someone got too close to his hunting ground. Casey Sparrer? She could have easily done it, with the strength and stealth she acquired in the army. Or maybe it was... There is a knock on the door.
Sue pokes her head in, "Mark, there's a woman for you out here. Wants to talk to you about the pub."
On a sigh, he says, "Send her in."
Sue nods and disappears. Seconds later, a woman in a suit and briefcase comes through. The recognition reflects in the scowl that forms on Mark's face. "I told you I wouldn't sell the first thirty times, Miss Kat. You can take you and your fancy business cards with their fancy gold 'Thena Kat' and walk right back out that door." He waves a hand and turns away, angrily sipping the brandy.
"Mr. Bowland. We are prepared to offer you the amount previously offered plus fifty percent of that offer."
He snorts, "Not for sale."
Kat smiles sweetly, "Come, now, everything's for sale at the right price, we've just yet to hit on the right amount. You can name your price, Mr. Bowland. My company is willing to pay for the property."
"Are you so daft I have to repeat myself? No. I will not sell my Pub to someone who will just plow it over and build a shopping mall or something." The glass connects with the maple of his desk. Slowly, he turns, "There is no price that I would sell this place for. Leave. Now."
Thena Kat sets her card on the desk and moves to the door, "You know where to find me if you change your mind."
"Over my dead body," Mark returns, furiously throwing the glass so that it smashes on the door behind her as it closes. He watches the brandy run down the wood, like a superhero that's met a wall, and glances over at the desk where the card lays. He sinks to the floor and rests his head on his hands. By god, he does need the money. But he needs the money for the pub, not for himself. If he sells the pub to them for the money, than he has no reason for the money in the first place. What had he gotten himself into? The pub was slowly losing business anyway, how much longer could he go on? As the brandy soaks into the carpet, he closes his eyes against the fear and loss.
Episode 6
Five minutes before closing, the Happy Hour Pub and Tavern is full of people. Again, there's only standing room left, and even Bowland himself wanders through the crowd. They've got three extra waitresses on duty and even then, the orders pile up. Sue's standing at the bar, pulling drinks left and right. Tweetie's working the floor, and the men, as usual.
When the door opens, the room quiets a bit. Through it walks Linda, who's smiling, "Guys, I know I don't come in often, but you don't have to stop the party for me." She saunters over to the bar, and gladly accepts the stool one of the regular patrons offers her. Quietly, she asks Sue, "I heard about the Kat."
Sue doesn't bother to look at her, "Yeah, she was in here the other day."
"Is my brother going to sell?"
"Linda," Sue looks at her this time, patience wearing thin, "You know Mark would stand and handcuff himself to the front door before selling this place."
Linda blows out a small breath, as though she'd been holding it, "Good."
There's a tap on her shoulder, and she turns to see a young redhead standing behind her. Wide green eyes ask in a hushed voice, "I heard you found the body."
She stifles a sigh, "Close enough, I suppose."
The redhead's eyes get even bigger, "Wow. What was it like? Can I buy you a drink? I'm Windy."
Linda laughs, "Yeah, sure, pull up a stool. I'll have a glass of white, thanks." She falls into the story, easily holding the young girl's attention.
Mark walks by, noticing Linda sitting there, and pats her shoulder as he continues toward the far table, where two men sit. He takes the chair across from them, asking, "Are you sure you dont' want to talk in my office?"
Druss glances around, "Oh, no, we've only got a few minor questions, of course. I'm sure your patrons won't mind the slight intrusion."
"Seems you've pulled in quite a crowd since that body was pulled outside your place," Knight says offhandedly, looking around.
Mark nods, "Yeah, seems to have done some good."
"About two months back, the victim, Atesiks, had a run in with one of your waitresses, um..." Druss flips through his notepad, "Cindy Piestand?"
"Yeah, he got a little frisky and I kicked him out," Mark shrugs. "I don't see why that makes me a suspect."
Knight folds his hands, "It's not you who is a suspect, it's Cindy, Mr. Bowland."
"Cindy?!"
"Yes, Mr. Bowland. Victims of harrassment often strike back in aggressive and violent ways. We'd like to question her, but your tavern is so full right now, we'd like to see her after the tavern closes."
Druss watches Tweetie walk by and send Mark a curious glance. Mark nods, "You'll have her full cooperation, as well as the rest you need. Who are they again?"
"Jill Marsh, Cindy Piestand, Sue Webrex, and it looks like Linda's already here," Knight grins. "Thanks, Mr. Bowland, if we need anything else, we'll be back to talk to you. We both know that.
"Watch yourself, Bowland," Druss growls as Mark stands to start shooing the patrons out.
Episode 7
"Where were you between the hours of eleven pm and one am on April fifteenth, Ms. Piestand?" Druss plants both hands on the table and looks her dead in the eye.
Tweetie yawns in his face and checks her nails, "Working the pub, of course, and yeah, i can prove it. Got any gum?"
Druss ignores the request and continues, "What is your connection with Paul U.K. Atesiks?"
"He felt me up a few months ago. Mark beat the tar out of him." She swings her feet up over the arm of the chair and settles in. She's had more than one dealing with the cops before.
"What about Gina Panerai?" Knight asks, thoughtful again.
Rolling her eyes, Tweetie spins to face him, "Gina and I weren't exactly bosom buddies, Detective. She's rich and I'm not. Money separates people, she wouldn't hang out with a two-bit waitress if she could. Sir.
"Murder for money? Druss thinks, "What did you think of her, Ms. Piestand?"
"She was a two-timing bitch, Detective. She hurt Sue more than I can say." Tweetie pulls back a sniffle. I will not cry in front of cops, she tells herself. "Sue gave that jerk the best years of her life, and he goes and sleeps around. She knew, everyone knew." Suddenly on her feet, she paced. "How could you not? Sue's got enough upperclass friends to know the village gossip. "She didn't do anything about it, though," the chair went flying with Tweetie's sudden rage. "She turned the other cheek and worked the bar. Sue could have had so much more than that bloke. She didn't work the bar because she needed the money, she worked it cause she had friends here. Not backstabbing snakes."
Knight watches, silent, and thinking. Cindy Piestand had loyalties, but would she kill for them? He didn't think so. As of that moment, they had no better suspect. She has links to both the victims, he reminds himself, albiet weak ones. How to book her for them? He asks quietly, "Do you and Sue have a strong bond?"
"Dude," Tweetie's calmed down now, surprised at herself, "Sue's like my mum. I didn't have one, and she's about as close as they come." A fire lights in her eyes, "She's not your killer, Detective. I garuntee that."
"A lot of good that garuntee is coming from a fellow suspect," Druss shoots back. "You pat my back, I'll pat yours? Is Sue going to tell us that you're not a killer, either?"
"I can tell you that, Druss," Tweetie stands and leans over the table, inches from his face. "And I can look you in the eye. I didn't kill anyone."
"But you would have liked to," Knight murmurs.
Tweetie turns her attention to Knight, "Honey, if I were going to kill someone, it would be Webrex, not Gina, because without Gina, he'll find someone else. And as for Atesiks, yeah, I'm still pretty irked at him, but, no, I don't have the guts to kill." She glanced between them, "Are we done, here?"
"Yeah," Knight says before Druss can zing her with another question. "Next time bring a lawyer, cause if we call you back, it'll be to arrest you."
"Threatening me, Detective?" Tweetie quirks an eyebrow at him. "You want to threaten me, get something substancial. Not this circumstancial BS." At the door, she turns, "Have a good evening, Gentlemen. I'd hate for the station to hear about what terrible Detectives they have."
With that and nothing more, she grabs her coat and heads for the door. Mark Bowland stops her inches before it, "You okay?"
"Mark, we've been pals since I went straight, right?"
"Yeah." Mark wonders about what she's going to say next.
Tweetie looks at him, "Then help me look out for Sue. They think it's her."
His eyebrows jolt up, "Sue? That's a laugh. They don't have anything on her. She's as straight as they come."
"Only she has a cheating boyfriend and a molested adoptee," Tweetie sighs. "Just watch out for her, okay? Maybe give her a ride home or something?"
Mark shifts a hand through his hair, "Yeah, no problem. Have a good evening, hun, we'll see you tomorrow." He holds the door open for her and then turns back to Sue, who's mopping up the bar. Sue? he thinks, and wonders about that car ride home.
Episode 8
He moves silently through the park after her. One foot after another defies the ground and the trecherous sticks and rocks. He knows she is aware of him, but disregards the feeling of danger as imagination. They didn't light the park. Only the moon in it's last quarter lights the grounds. Only the moon will be witness. He watches her glance over her shoulder, a suddenly worried look on her face, hears her murmur to herself. Her stride quickens. The hunt has begun.
Bea hurries a bit as she stumbles through the dark grass. Stupid, stupid, she berrates herself, should have taken the car. Again, she glances over her shoulder, her feet warning her not to stop. She can imagine the blood and the damage and quickens her pace again. A distinct footfall behind her makes her drop the bag she is carrying and dash into a full-out sprint. Footsteps behind her again come faster as they hit concrete. He is close, she knows he is. She can almost feel his breath. Crazily, she shoots a look around for a weapon of some sort. Her legs are getting tired.
He sees it the moment she weakens. He can almost taste the blood and damage. She'd be looking for a weapon, something to fight him off with. All she carries was a dinky purse at her side; she's dropped her bag back in the park. He smiles, imagining death. She trips and goes down, only to scramble up again and try to sprint faster. He can almost touch her. When he can, he thinks, she'll be his. He could always shoot her, he thinks, the holster hitting his thigh with every step. No, that's how he'd ended Paul. He lengthens his stride a bit and catches up to her, his arm coming around her waist. They hit concrete together.
Pain radiates through her arm. Bea yells, hoping to attract attention on the vacant street. Too scared to curse herself, she brings her elbow back into solid muscle. A hand comes over her mouth, a voice hisses in her ear, "You're next."
He enjoys watching her struggle. Watching her feet kick out and back, trying to get in a good shot. Again, he leans into her ear, "Be a good little girl, and I'll make sure you don't suffer." Break her neck, he decides. One swift crack and leave her on the sidewalk. Glee surrounded his smile.
Good girl, nothing, she thinks, and bites the hand over her mouth. The man yelps, pulling back suddenly. Bea runs for all she is worth.
He tackles her, mid-step and takes her to the sidewalk again. Both are bleeding by now. He is sure she can't see his face and so turns her to face him, effectively pinning her arms beneath him and sitting on her stomach. "You want to be a good girl, don't you, Bea?" She snarls and spits into his eyes.
Bea feels the weight shift and shifts hers with it to overbalance him. He falls back on the sidewalk, his gun skittering free of the holster. She dives for it at the very moment he does. Length for length, they grapple until the gun is between them. A shot rings out.
Episode 9
Linda taps her driver on the shoulder, Fish turns around, "Yes, ma'am?"
"Swing by Bea's house, would you?" Linda sits back and watches the scenery.
"Surely, Ms. Alexis." They pull up in the street next to the house to find two other cars in the drive.
Linda hops out, knowing something's wrong, and flies up the walk, her driver calling after her, "Ms. Alexis? Ms. Alexis! Your jacket!" Stuff the jacket, she thinks and tosses the door open.
Two startled faces glance back at her. Frank Nun grimaces, "Hello Linda."
"Mr. Nun." She glances at the other face, "Parsnip. May I ask what you're doing in Bea's obviously empty house?"
"She, uh, Snip? You want to take this one?" Frank turns to his companion.
Gracefully, Parsnip mutters "coward" before falling into her normal chatter, "Well, you see, Bea's had a run in with the Happy Hour killer. That's what they're calling him now, you know. The detectives said so. Nice fellow that Knight is, a bit sarcastic for my tastes, but then again, you'd need a sarcastic person to fit with that Druss character. Anyway," she paused for breath and a smile, "the killer had a gun and it went off and everyone was dying to know who he was and who died and if anyone died 'tall, but then he was up and gone and Bea laid there on the street. At least, that's what I'm told. Someone found her this morning and she was really cold and really stiff so the shopkeeper called the ambulance, but he didnt' touch the body cause he's scared of dead people, but anyway. The ambulance came and took her body away, but guess what?" Parsnip smiles again and gathers some of the items on the table behind them. "She's not dead 'tall, only wounded. She down at the Memorial right now in bed, happily telling the detectives that she's no idea who he is afterall, even though she looked him directly in the face. They think she's an accomplice perhaps gone awry. I dont' believe that at all. Bea's possibly the nicest person I've met in Gina's group this far. you honestly dont' think she could be an accomplice, do you?"
Frank puts his hand over Snip's mouth before she can say anything else, "In conclusion, we stopped by to pick up some of her things...hair and toothbrush, some clothing, etc."
Linda nods, calmer now, then her eyes grow suspicious, "Why are there two of you then?"
"We couldn't decide who's to come," Snip pulls Frank's hand off her mouth. "Afterall, Frank's the one who found Gina, he could be the killer and then try and hide evidence while he's here. And then how would we find out who he is? We wouldn't. so we agreed that I should come along and watch him."
"If," Nun narrows his eyes, "I were the killer, you'd be dead, 'Snip."
"Hm, what a lovely thought," she grins, "but then they'd catch you anyway, cause we've a positive ID on who you are and exactly who went with me anyway, which is precisely why I'm perfectly safe." Nun growls at that, but says nothing.
Linda takes the bag from Parsnip, "The memorial, then? I'll take these to her." She leaves without a by-your-leave and directs her driver to the Memorial Hospital.
Bea rests in room 37C on the third floor, a gaggle of flowers around her. She smiles at Linda when she walks in, "Hi, there. Please say you brought me some cocoa?"
Linda frowns, "No, i didn't, but I'm sure I can get you some, hun. What happened?"
"My lung had a nasty little run in with a bullet. No big deal, Linda. As soon as they let me out of here, I'll be happy as a duck in a puddle." Bea searches through the bag and beams at her hairbrush,
"Oh thank the saints."
"Your lung?" Panicked, Linda stands, "You wouldn't be able to breathe, then!"
Bea laughs, "Seems one can survive on one lung long enough for the ambulance to arrive. And aside from that, seems the damage is repairable. How about getting your pal some cocoa, Linda? The stuff here isn't fit for horses."
"Cocoa? Cocoa?? How can you think about that when there's a killer out there who has it in for you?" Linda drops back into the chair, exasperated.
"He's not going to kill me when I'm in the hospital, Linda. Too many cameras, too many people," Bea smiles, "I'll just have to hire a bodyguard when I get out, that's all."
She gives a pout her best shot, "Cocoa?"
"Oh bloody hell, all right." Linda huffs and charges out the door to find some. Over her shoulder, she says, "You better hope you're right, Bea. For all you know, I could be the murderer."
"Doubtful," Bea chuckles when Linda's out of hearing distance. "Her breath doesn't smell bad a'tall."
Episode 10
Knight flies into Druss's office, a grin on his face and a paper in his hand, "I got it!"
Druss, startled, jolts and snaps his gaze up, "For God's sake, quiet down. I've better things to do today than listen to your nonsense."
"You'll want to listen to this one, Druss," Knight grins again. "I got the connection."
Interest lights in Druss's eyes, "THE connection? to the victims?"
"Aye, the very same." Knight sits on the desk and begins, "Atesiks got beaten up by the HHP&T owner, Panerai is cheating with the Bartender's husband, and Puss is best friend to Alexis who is the sister of the owner of HHP&T. The connection? The bar itself."
Druss cradles his head in his hands and counts quietly to ten, pushing his temper back down, "Knight, good work. But we already knew that." Knight wings up an eyebrow, "We did? How come I didn't?"
"Weren't you paying attention?"
"Obviously not," a voice from the doorway turns both heads. There, leaning against the doorframe is Thena Kat. "Well, I've already figured it all out. The killer and such."
Druss narrows his eyes, "All right, go ahead. Clue us in."
The Kat laughs, "Well, it's Sue of course. That's the only explanation. The girl she's taken under her wing was molested by Atesiks, her husband's cheating on her, and she doesn't like Bea Puss on the pure principle of the girl not being a drinker. Motive? There is none, she's just nuts."
Knight rolls his eyes, "What do you want, Kat?"
"The HHP&T of course, just like I have for the last eight years. Bowland still won't sell, but I'll get it eventually." She walks forward to lay a hand aside Druss's face, "You look tired." Flustered.
Druss waves her away, "I'm not, just frustrated. And what do you care anyway?" He stands and stalks away.
Knight's lips twitch watching the pair. The girl liked him, no doubt, but his partner'd have nothing to do with it. Knight cleared his throat, "I'm going for coffee, I'll be back later." He had the small satisfaction of seeing Druss's eyes widen.
Knight sips his coffee, deep in thought. Maybe Thena was right, and maybe Sue's the murderer. They'd already touched on it between him and Druss, of course, but without... Evidence. Knight snaps his fingers and runs down to the evidence vault. A single bare lightbulb illuminates the space behind mesh-enforced window. The guard huffs, "Yeah?"
"I need to evidence bags from the Atesiks murder and the Panerai murder. Now." Knight signed them off and spread the contents on the table. In Panerai's bag, three lipsticks, hair samples, and blood on a slide. In Atesiks' bag, blood on a slide, skin on a slide, and a few discarded tissue's from his pocket. Blood. Knight thought, I wonder... He went back to the desk, "Attempted murder of B. Puss." He took them and took out the blood samples. If he was right, this could break the town. Knight dashes up to forensics for a blood sample test. Steps, mere steps, away from knowing.
Episode 11
Jill glances over at her buddy riding head of the small cluster of bikers, catching in her mirror the site of blue and red lights behind them, just coming over the hill. She signals her gang over to let them pass, but to her surprise, the four cop cars surrounded their mob, corralling them against the highway divider. Druss steps out of the lead vechicle, "Jill Marsh."
Jill pulls off her helmet, a dazzling redflecked gold with face sheild, "Yeah, I'm her."
The uniforms are on her before she can ask what's going on. "You are under arrest for the murders of Paul U.K. Atesiks and Gina Panerai, as well as the attempted murder of Bea Puss," Druss says in his official tone as the cuffs click over her wrists.
"I didn't--"
"You know your rights, Miss Marsh, I suggest you keep your mouth shut until you can get ahold of your solicitor." Druss pushes Jill's head beneath the roof of the car and shuts the door behind her. Smiling, he dusts off imaginary dust from his hands, "Case closed."
Meanwhile, across town, Knight grins at the phone, "Yes sir, right away sir. I'll get right on it." The blood samples went through and they all matched. Now it was merely a matter of comparing them to the potential suspects and pulling in the killer. He cracks his knuckles and starts running computer matches. The DNA codes should crack within 48 hours, he thinks, then this bag is mine. Maybe I'll get a promotion, he leans back in his chair, fully prepared to take a nap.
Episode 12
Thena Kat walks between the rows in the open market. The air is filled with the scent of baking goods and meats, and the sun shines down to warm her back. Dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, she is more comfortable than when she last visited Bowland. Idly, she stops at a jewelry cart and flicks a glance over the goods there. Mum's birthday is coming up, she thinks, and chooses a gold chain with some sort of pink stone hanging from it. The shopkeeper smiles when she asks how much. Thena sputters at the price and begins haggling with him. Down the street, two sets of eyes watch her until she moves on.
The computer beeps, jolting Knight from his sleep. Groggy now, he looks at the screen. His eyes widen, and he clicks for a printout. The computer freezes and the printer begins to click repeatedly. "No," Knight groans. "You'd think as a detective I could get proper equipment." He hits it a few times on the side of the monitor, hoping to jar it back. He's seen the name, that's all that matters, really. That pushing at him, he speeds down the hall. Not in his office, he thinks, unusual. He slides to a stop in front of the main desk to see Druss ushering Jill Marsh through the door in cuffs. One eyebrow cocked, he asks, "What'd she do this time?"
"She's the Happy Hour Killer, bozo," Druss rolls his eyes again.
"No, she's not." Knight says. He nods to a uniform and pushes Jill in his direction, "Uncuff her, get her something to eat. This could take a while."
Taking Druss's arm, he pulls him to the opposite side of the room while his partner sputters, "But she had to be the one. She hates them all, doing it for money. Something. But it's her."
"No," Knight corrects, "it isn't. The killer is--"
He gets cut off by a hobo who runs through the door, dropping blood everywhere. "Call an ambulance!"
Frank Nun smiles at Tina Boo, openly flirting with her, "Your eyes are beautiful, Tina."
Greyson slides his arm around his wife and gives Nun a hard look, "I think the amount of alcohol you've consumed has impaired your judgement, Frank."
"But she does have pretty eyes, Grey," Nun protests. "All bluish with brownish places and little bit of gold."
"Yep," Grey swipes Nun's drink and places it on the roving waiter's tray. "Water for you, my boy."
Tina grins, "Don't I have pretty eyes, Greyson?"
"The most beautiful set that God ever created," he answers, steering his wife and his friend to a seat beneath the chandelier.
"Oh Grey," Tina bubbles a bit and sits next to Sue. "I have pretty eyes," she brags.
Sue laughs, "Yeah, ask any of your university mates, especially the men. What's wrong with him?" She nods at Nun.
"He's a bit tipsy," Grey answers.
"Ah.. uh oh, here comes 'Snip," Sue warns, buckling down to listen for a few.
Parsnip sits down next to Nun, who smiles crookedly at her, "Hiya dollface."
"Hi yourself. And look at you, the sight. You've gone and gotten yourself smashed, haven't you? Frank, how many times do I have to tell you to go easy? You could hurt someone in this state, or tell some secrets or even kill yourself. Amazing what people do," she turns to a grinning Tina, "Drinking for the sole purpose of getting drunk, and then the morning after! It feels like you've got giants jackhammering in every sensitive part of your brain. That's why I don't drink. The one time I did, I got a terrible hangover and vowwed, never again for me!"
Nun sticks a hand over her mouth, "Jeez and you do talk. Rumor has it they caught the Happy Hour Killer, you know." He leaned back, suddenly sleepy, "They thought it was Jill, but then it wasn't..."
"What? Who then?" Grey asks, trying to shake him awake. He simply snores louder.
Thena manages to haggle the price down to about two-thirds of the original, and, pleased with herself, she continues down to her car. It starts like a dream, as always, and purrs contentedly. She goes to shift gears and glances up into the mirror. A pair of hard eyes stare back at her before the knife slides to her throat. She raises her hands above her head, off the wheel, "Take what you want. I don't have much money, but my purse is on the seat. Take my jewelry, whatever you want."
"Shut up and drive, Kat." Her mind jumps at the voice, trying to place it, but the knife jerks against her skin and she drives. The second set of eyes that had watched her before peek over the hood of a neighboring car, seeing both the knife and the killer.
"Jerk." Druss spits. "It was ketchup. Those stupid kids. I'll murder them myself."
Knight is still laughing, "I remember doing that to you at your thirty-year anniversery, Druss. You fall for it every time. God, it's the oldest trick in the book, and you fell for it." New laughter boils up.
Druss glowers and grates out, "Knight, we have better things to do than deal with this. Like catching the killer."
"H-hold on, let me catch my breath," Knight's giggling now, uncontrollably. "Okay, okay, let's get to the car, I'll fill you in on the way." Once inside the car, Knight begins, "Well, I went back to look at the evidence from the murders and found the blood samples, which I could have sworn forensics kept, but anyway, I took them up and had them analyzed. Of course, both Atesiks' and Panerai's is there, but there was a third strand. So I ran DNA with DNA and took a nap."
"How does napping bring us to the conclusion that I'm wr...wr..." he choked on his words and like Porky Pig, fell on new ones, "that Jill's not the killer?"
Knight laughs again, then winces at his sore muscles, "It doesn't, naturally. It was after I woke up but before the computer crashed again. We really need to get that fixed."
"Knight. The killer is?" Druss interrupts again.
"I got a look at the screen," Knight smiles. "The killer is..."
"Bowland?" Thena's car is parked, when she finally places the voice. "Mark Bowland?"
"Get out of the car, Kat, slowly. You'll die today, but you want as much time here on earth as is humanly possible," Mark pulls the mask off, now found out by his victim. Blood beats behind his eyes.
Episode 13
Druss and Knight walk out of the HHP&T, Knight shaking his head, "He skipped. No one's seen him since oh-seven hundred this morning." Druss leans against the car while Knight studies the sky, "Well, who's next, then? First was Atesiks, then Panerai, then Puss. All are connected to the tavern in some way, but it seems really weak."
"That's cause it is," A voice speaks from behind Druss. A man, tall, with a dirty trench and a stained baseball cap stands there, glancing around timidly. "It's the HHP&T that's the connection, but moreso who's connected to the HHP&T."
"Who the bloody hell are you," Knight asks, suspicious.
"Call me Shadow," the man says.
Druss snorts, "We dont' have time for this. Beat it or I'll arrest you myself."
"Look." Shadow shifts and glances around again, as though the walls have eyes as well as ears, "You can dismiss me and my information, or you can save a life. The choice is yours, mate, I suggest you think fast."
Knight's eyebrow wings up as he puts a restraining hand on Druss's shoulder, "Spill it, Snitch, and we'll see."
"Two words: The Kat. Smart, sexy business woman after Mark Bowland's bar. Driven, stubborn, she wont' give up. The HH is Bowland's number one, his only, so she's a threat, especially because he does need the money." Shadow holds up a hand before Druss can bark at him, "The other victims were just practice to put the blame on someone else. Atesiks was supposed to turn the blame to Sue, as was Panerai... quick, painful murders that spoke to the cops. Puss was different, she was to shift the blame to Jill Marsh, who didn't like her anyway. You arrested Jill."
"You work fast," Knight comments. They'd arrested Jill only this morning.
"Aye." Shadow's eyes flit from one face to another, "Both of those suspects are female, generally shifting the eye from a male murderer. He's smart, Bowland is. I figured this out three days ago, though, you guys played right into his game."
Druss growled, "Get on with it, who's next if you're so smart."
"I'm getting there. Patience is a virtue," Shadow grins. "The Kat's next. His murders are done, he needs to skip town after this job. Everything'll go to Linda Alexis once he leaves, or be taken back by the bank." He shrugged, "He's got a knife on Kat down at the warehouses on Elizabeth."
Druss and Knight turned their backs to him, discussing the info. Knight said, "It's worth a shot. We haven't got anything else on him."
"But what good is a hobo's word?"
"Does he sound like a hobo to you?"
"He could be the killer, leading us into a trap." Druss turns back, "Where did you say y--"
Knight chuckled and put a hand on Druss's shoulder. "I guess that's why he calls himself Shadow," he says as they look out at the empty parking lot.
Episode 14
The sirens squeal as the car zooms down the streets. Druss drives madly, narrowly missing cars and pedestrians alike. "Cut the siren," he orders as they near the warehouse. They pull up next to Bowland's grey car and carefully step out.
Knight glances in the windows; the car is spotless inside and out. "Looks like it's been cleaned recently."
Druss snorts, "No really?" His heart's pounding hard in his chest, and he can't seem to slow it down. "Let's go."
"Druss," Knight stops him. "You know proceedure. Scour the building's outside, be aware of exits, THEN go inside."
"Screw proceedure. I'm not losing another one." Druss pulls his gun from his shoulder holster and heads through the opening of the building, kicking the door open with his foot. Knight sighs and follows; if he can't protect Druss from himself, he could at least protect him from Bowland.
Inside the building, beams fall out of the cieling, creating a wooden spiderweb for the detectives to crawl through in dust-caked light. They've both shed their coats now, crawling up the stairs and to the third floor, the top floor. Bowland has to be here, Druss thinks, the last two floors were clear. He and Knight sweep room after room clear, knowing that Bowland and his knife could be just behind the door of one of them. Tension hangs in the air. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Episode 15
Knight and Druss look at the last door together, then turn to each other. Knight points to himself and then at the floor, signalling that he'd go in low and Druss high. Druss nods, a grim look on his face. They stand on either side of the door, counting slowly to three.
Thena laughs, "Why the heck would you want to kill me? Over the HHP&T contract? Come on, you've got bigger fish to fry."
"Over the tavern and over all the grief you've given me, yes," Bowland tosses a pair of handcuffs at her, "put them on."
She sneers, "You've got to be kidding. I'll ruin my manicure closing them." She glances up to see Mark scowling, "Maybe you should do it."
"Maybe I should kill you and then cuff you. It'd shut you up."
They hit the door together, Druss high, and Knight low, and distract Bowland from his duty at hand. Thena surges up and tackles Bowland, the knife suddenly being grappled for. Knight watches, gun aimed, "I can't get in a clean shot, Druss!"
"Don't shoot her don't shoot her," Druss chants.
"Wait for it." Bowland rolls free, knife in hand, and charges Druss. For a split second, Druss can't breathe.
Episode 16
The knife angles high, like a scene out of Psycho, the point inches from slashing into Druss's skin. Druss's hand come up to bar against Bowland's wrist and stops the blade's downward progress. Wisely, Bowland has turned the fight so that Druss's back faces Knight. Knight can't get off a clean shot. "Druss, move," he shouts, but to no avail.
Druss grits out, "And get sliced in half? Ha!"
Thena looks around madly for a weapon of some sort, coming up with a short two-by-four.
"Detective, how nice of you to dance with me," Bowland says mockingly. "But sadly the music is about to end." He draws back a fist and doubles Druss with a blow to the stomach.
Thena swings the board at Knight's head, dropping him faster than Druss went down. She picked up his gun and leered, "Can I shoot him, Mark?"
Bowland kicks Druss aside, the detective landing hard on his side. "Sure sweetheart."
Thena raises the gun, the reflection of the sunlight seemingly making her eyes gleam, "Say goodnight, my noble detective."
"CHARGE!!!" Out of nowhere, Parsnip tackles Thena, the gun skittering to a stop beneath Frank Nun's loafer.
He reaches down and picks it up, pointing it on Bowland while Thena and Snip battle it out in the corner, "Put the knife on the ground and kick it here." Bowland makes no move. "Don't mess with me, Bowland. We've been under cover and after your butt for a long long time. I won't hesitate to end it by force. Put. Down. The. Knife."
"Under cover?" Bowland asks, stalling. "For what? These are the first murders I've done."
"Your drug problem of course. The knife, Bowland, now." Nun doesn't even blink when Bowland sets it on the ground.
Meanwhile, Parsnip is slapping the cuffs on Thena, "You've been a very bad kitty, Thena, and now you're going down too."
Thena curses the air black and blue, saying everything she can imagine but "foiled again."
Druss climbs painfully to his feet, shock wide in his eyes, "How...but you...and me...Thena, how could you?"
"You were an easy target, Druss. Get over it."
Thena sits where Parsnip's propped her against the wall.
Bowlands hand jerks up and forward, the knife thrown and headed straight for Nun's heart. A gun goes off. Bowland's laugh booms off the walls, Druss's gun in his hand. The knife sunk into the plasterboard just under Nun's shoulder. Bowland grins again as Nun leans back against the wall, looking down at himself. Bowland raises the gun again, ready to go in for the kill.
Nun's breath comes harshly, blood pounds in his temples as he stares down the barrel. The gun goes off. Nun opens one eye, just in time to see both of Bowland's roll back in his head and his body crumple. Vaguely he hears Kat screaming and then slumps into oblivion. Parsnip ignores Kat and finds the pulse of each of her comrades. Bowland's dead, no doubt. Knight's down for the count and Druss is hurting. Nun definately got the worst of it, catching a bullet in the shoulder. She pulls him down and props him against the wall too.
Nun surfaces, his speech slurred, "Who won?"
"Don't worry," Parsnip grins, "Bowland had bad aim anyway."
The End