Darkness Rises_Book 1_Prelude To Insanity Read online

  “This one’s not infected.” A female voice said from beneath the hood of her cloak as she released her grip on Michael. She knelt in front of the frightened young boy before pulling her hood from her head to rest on her shoulders.

  Michael had never seen her before, a young woman in her mid-twenties maybe but, she looked at him with such pity and sadness that he could tell she meant him no harm.

  “What’s your name?” she asked sweetly and though the boy was frightened he managed to reply timidly to her request, “Michael.” He said shakily.

  The other cloaked figure finally spoke. “We don’t have time for this. Let’s just finish the job and be done with it.” He said keeping his cowl pulled low over his face.

  Michael regarded him somewhat fearfully realizing he had no idea what loomed underneath the man’s hood even though he sounded human.

  “You’re a callous man Lawrence.” The young woman remarked angrily but, she didn’t argue his point.

  “Michael, I need you to go outside. You’re safe now but we have to make sure our jobs done…Can you do that for me?” She asked causing the young boy stand up reluctantly. “That’s a good boy. You’ll be ok but, I need you to promise me that you won’t come back in the house under any circumstance.” She said growing sadder as each word crossed her lips.

  Michael’s tears flowed freely but, he bobbed his head ‘yes’ before making his way to the front door of the house with the young woman following him closely. “What about my mommy and daddy?” Michael asked standing in the open doorway,

  The young woman’s response seemed to go against everything she stood for. “Go to a neighbor’s house and don’t look back otherwise we’ll be forced to kill you.” She said doing her best to hide her disgust at her own words.

  Michael ran out of the house not looking back. Flames had erupted from the house’s interior moments later which flickered brightly into the night as he ran full speed to the nearest neighbor’s home about a quarter of a mile down the road. Police and fire crews had rushed to the fire however, Michael’s home was engulfed and little more than ashes had remained by the end of the night. He had been questioned by the police about the events that had transpired however, after extensive psychological evaluations he was determined to have been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and eventually the case of the ‘Surgical Butcher’ was assumed to be the act of a serial killer who had been engulfed by the fire after killing both of Michael’s parents. He was eventually sent to live with his uncle in California and repressed the memory as best he could…..

  “Martinez! What the hell are you doing?” Reese shouted causing the older detective to jump from his reminiscent daydream with a start only to be driving headlong towards a semi-truck blaring its horn defiantly at the smaller car.

  “Shit!” Martinez said jerking the steering wheel to the right swerving out of the way in the nick of time. He managed to keep control of the BMW as he centered it back into their own lane but, the knowledge that he had managed to avoid disaster provided him with little comfort as his heart raced heavily in his chest. He maintained the road for a moment longer but, the ensuing numbness that issued from his right arm and the pain in his chest forced him to pull the speeding BMW to the narrow shoulder.

  “Why are we stopping?” Reese asked but, when Martinez pulled his left hand to push against his chest the younger detective knew exactly what was happening, the older man was having a heart attack. Reese grabbed the CB radio hanging from the dashboard. “Dispatch this is Detective Reese currently stopped on Highway 246 heading southbound two miles out of Los Olivos. We are in a Silver BMW, I repeat a Silver BMW. License plate number 9800236. Detective Michael Martinez is in the vehicle with me and appears to be having a heart attack. We need an EMT sent right away.” Reese said keeping his tone as calm and collected as he possibly could, however, he knew that it was a simple façade at best as he gauged Martinez’s condition.

  “Detective Reese this is dispatch we currently have emergency vehicles en route to your location. Is Detective Martinez conscious, over?” A female voice issued forth through the static

  Although Martinez felt weak, he spoke defiantly through his own pain. “Reese…I just….I just need a moment is all.” He assured the younger detective but, his face grew paler and Reese knew that it would only be a matter of moments before Martinez would be unable to hold himself any longer.

  “Dispatch, Martinez is currently conscious but I don’t know for how much longer, over.” He replied through the radio before turning his attention to Martinez.

  “Ok keep us updated if the situation changes, over.” Dispatch replied but Reese didn’t respond, instead, he pitied the older detective realizing that he may lose the only true mentor he had ever known.

  “Jeeze boy….if you…don’t calm down…..I’ll smack you.” Martinez gasped before his head lulled heavily. His vision grew blurry but, he refused to let the younger detective see him succumb to the heart attack forcing every last ounce of will he had just to keep his eyes open.

  “I can see emergency lights down the road. Just hang in there a bit longer.” Reese stammered throwing his door open, so he would be ready the second the paramedics stopped.

  Martinez could hear Reese yelling at the Paramedics ordering them to hurry up but, he sounded distant and surreal amongst the pain. Martinez felt a warm cross draft blow over him as his own door was ripped open and an unfamiliar voice, which he assumed was a paramedic, questioned him.

  “Sir, can you hear me?” the paramedic asked but, Martinez was too weak to respond. “We need a stretcher, he’s conscious but I don’t think he’s coherent.” The paramedic called back as he unfastened the older man’s safety belt.

  Martinez could feel himself being pulled awkwardly from the car and a sense of vertigo nauseated him as he was laid flat on his back to look skyward.

  “Is he going to be alright!? “ Reese asked but, the paramedics disregarded him as they wheeled Martinez to the back of the ambulance hurriedly setting him inside. Two of them worked hastily to get an IV inserted into the older man’s veins and he could feel a warm liquid being pumped into him. Reese remained at the back of the ambulance looking on helplessly as Martinez’s shirt was cut from him and several machines were connected to the now frail-looking older man.

  “Sir we need to get him to the hospital, we’re sorry we can’t give you any more definite details than that.” One of the paramedics offered to the young detective before closing the ambulance door.

  Reese returned to the BMW hastily throwing it into gear as the ambulance sped off down the highway. For the first time since he had been partnered with the older man, he felt a sense of guilt envelope him as he slammed the gas pedal hard racing after the ambulance.

  * * * * *

  Nearly four hours passed before a shapely female nurse clad in blue scrubs approached Detective Reese who hadn’t moved from the only available seat right outside of the Emergency Room doors in the waiting area. “Sir, your partner is currently waiting to be taken to an observation room but, he is stable enough if you would like to visit him now.” She informed him dryly as if his presence at the hospital was nothing more than an annoyance.

  Reese didn’t need any more coercion than the nurse had provided and he quickly pulled himself to his feet.

  “This way,” The nurse said holding the door for Reese who passed through it eagerly looking for a telltale sign that indicated where his superior was being held. Without delay, the nurse walked passed Reese who followed her hesitantly, uncomfortable around the beeps and signals issuing forth from little side rooms. He could handle seeing a dead body but, unlike the female nurse who viewed each and every aspect of the ER as normal, he had always been uncomfortable in hospitals. She led him passed several rooms and he couldn’t help but peer into each one as they walked by, however, the nurse never hesitated or slowed her stride until she came to one of the rooms with its door standing ajar. She opened the door for the detective who
tried to walk passed her but before he could she put out a delaying arm stopping him in his tracks.

  “Can I see my partner now?” He asked doing little to hide his frustration. “

  Sir, you can only stay for a little bit. He needs his rest. Are we clear?” she asked seemingly determined in her resolve and Reese, no matter how badly he wanted to argue that his authority was stronger than hers, nodded. “Good. He’s behind the curtain on the right. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She assured him before setting off down the white hallway.

  “Hmm. I bet you’re single.” Reese mused looking after her until she turned a corner and walked out of sight. He sighed heavily before entering Martinez’s room still fearing the worst even though the man had been declared stable. The room was quiet save for the sound of a Doppler issuing forth beeps at regular intervals indicating each beat of the older man’s heart and Reese forced himself to walk around the curtain.

  “I didn’t think you cared.” Martinez chuckled as Reese came into view.

  Immediately the younger detective wanted to put the old man in his place, however, seeing IVs and other equipment hooked into his partner made him stay his tongue. “Yeah well, I had to make sure you weren’t going to die on me.” Reese joked and Martinez appreciated the lighthearted attitude his subordinate was trying to keep.

  “You saved my life boy. I guess I’m getting too old for this shit huh?” he stated coughing lightly amidst a chuckle.

  Reese wondered if he should tell the old man that maybe it was time for an early retirement however, he knew that Martinez would never accept such an answer so he shrugged noncommittally.

  “Well, at least you’re in charge of the show till I get out of here. Don’t screw it up.” Martinez seemed to scold Reese who took the old man’s words in stride.

  “Do you want me to call your wife?” Reese asked changing the subject and Martinez shook his head in response.

  “Nah, she’s at her mother’s in Anaheim. I’ll be out of here before she even realizes that I was admitted.” The old detective offered slyly.

  Reese didn’t understand the older man’s logic but he supposed he was trying to save his wife from having to worry about him. He wondered if he would have had that kind of resolve if he himself had a family but, like fingerprints, people were never exactly alike in their thinking.

  “Sir I want to apologize for all the crap I’ve been putting you through.” Reese blurted before he even knew what he was saying and he couldn’t be certain if he truly meant his words or not but, seeing Martinez in his current state he knew that those simple words were the least he could offer. For a few moments, the air felt thick to Reese as Martinez seemed to consider what the younger detective said.

  “You’re a lot like I was. Always on the move and always ready to catch the next perp but, you can’t forget that you’re a public servant and your job is to serve and protect not to berate and destroy. Once you figure that out I think you’ll do fine son.” Martinez replied genuinely.

  Reese couldn’t rightly say if he felt insulted or complimented. “I’ll try to keep that in mind,” Reese replied knowing that he wanted to ask the older detective about his conversation with Laila and Cole earlier that day, however, he figured he would only add fire to the old man’s view of him. “So what do I do now?” Reese asked hoping that Martinez would catch his hint but, the old man simply shrugged.

  “I don’t know. You’re in charge of our unit until I get out of this godforsaken place.” Martinez said seeming to congratulate the younger cop.

  Although the younger detective liked the prospect of being in charge, he needed something more. He wanted to hear the older man say that he needed to bring the young lovers in and question them more thoroughly, however, Martinez didn’t seem to catch the hint. From behind him, Reese could hear the light footsteps of someone entering the small room and within seconds the shapely female nurse pulled the curtain aside. She paid no attention to Detective Reese instead, she spoke to Martinez.

  “Mr. Martinez we need to move you upstairs so that we can open up some space down here and we have to ask your partner to leave so that you can get some rest.” She said stating a matter of fact before turning to Reese. “Time’s up. We have to move him now. Can you show yourself out?” She asked.

  Reese was almost thankful for her curt nature. He wanted to be out of the hospital and any excuse that he had to leave was an appreciated one no matter how ineloquently it was put.

  “Guess that’s my cue sir. You get better.” Reese said to the older detective before turning to walk out of the room.

  “Reese,” Martinez said causing the younger man to stop mid-stride half turning to regard his superior. “Just try to do what you think is right and you’ll be fine.” The older detective said and Reese nodded his accord.

  He made his way through the main room of the ER and out into the waiting room thinking about the old man’s comment the whole way. ‘Do what I think is right.’ He thought considering the old man’s words as he passed through the main entrance of the hospital and to the silver BMW. Upon entering the car he knew what he had to do and the only way he would find out what put Martinez into the hospital would be to find out what had transpired before he went.

  CHAPTER 12

  Cole and Laila spent most of the day contemplating what the implications of having the two detectives suspecting them of arson, and quite possibly murder, might mean. Cole had done his best to offer Laila as much support as he could, however, her responses had been less than enthusiastic and he too believed that they would have to be the luckiest people on the planet for anyone to believe their story. Upon hearing the sound of several vehicles pulling into Laila’s driveway Cole moved to look out the window.

  “The cops are back and this time they brought friends.” He said doing his best to hide his frustration after he counted two cruisers followed closely by the silver BMW that he and Laila were quickly growing accustomed to.

  “I knew they wouldn’t believe the truth, heck, I hardly believe it and I lived through it,” Laila admitted in defeat.

  Cole couldn’t argue with her logic. He knew that if he hadn’t been face to face with Corin himself he wouldn’t have believed a single part of the story Laila had offered to Detective Martinez either. Cole chanced another glance out the window keeping hidden behind drawn drapes using only the tiniest slit to view the oncoming officers.

  “What do you think we should do now?” Laila asked however, she knew that there really was nothing they could do other than give themselves up peacefully.

  “I think we should go out to them,” Cole offered reluctantly knowing he and Laila were most likely going to be taken into custody given the number of cops but, the question was how they would be taken into custody.

  “Alright babe but, what are we going to tell them?” She asked and Cole couldn’t give her a reasonable response so, he reluctantly offered the only answer that seemed feasible.

  “Tell them nothing, if they ask you any questions just tell them you want to speak to a lawyer.” He stated flatly knowing that they had little options left open to them if the cops had preconceived notions of their guilt in mind. He started towards the door and Laila caught his arm as he passed. He noticed the tear running down her cheek and he stopped.

  She looked at Cole wondering if things would ever be the same after this. How would their lives be affected? She wasn’t even certain that she would ever him again and the pain grew deeper still. She had never been in trouble with the law before and the consequences for the charges that could be brought against them would be dire indeed. “I love you, Cole. I’m sorry I got you involved in this. If I hadn’t been so curious about my father none of this would have happened in the first place.” She said hoping that Cole would accept her apology for what it was worth, however, he leaned in and kissed her gently.

  “No matter what happens, I’ll be by your side as long as I can,” Cole promised drawing away.

  Although reluctant
to follow through with Cole’s plan to reveal themselves to the awaiting officers outside, Laila made her way to the door with Cole trailing close behind her.

  “I guess we better do this.” She stated reaching for the door handle but, Cole quickly brushed her hand aside.