Note: http://sbrlists.blogspot.com/search/label/Snake%27s%20CD%20Project Here is a link that will show you all the previous parts together. I am sure since I haven't posted on this since March 24th, that most will need a refresher. I think I have found some new energy on this project and as I reread some from this set, I am thinking I might be pulling inspiration from Red as points. But what finally helped was a I let go of my story a little bit and let the lyrics help me decide the pacing and what should happen.
Disc 1
Track 8
Intimate Secretary
The Racontuers
Broken Boy Soldiers
Is this greeting the type that’s meant for me?
The morning sun shined down onto Justin sitting at the edge of his bed. He could hear the birds chirping out in a nearby tree even though the windows were closed. His hands throbbed as they pressed into the mattress. His back ached and his head hurt. He looked back down at the bed, his impression still visible in the mattress.
The shower head continues to drip after Justin shuts off the water and exits the shower. The water plops as it hits the drain. He barely notices it anymore. He throws his towel onto the bar, forgetting it came out of the wall last week. It crashes to the floor with a bang. Justin continues walking out of the bathroom failing to notice.
Fully clothed, he slips his watch onto his left wrist. Looking at the time, he realizes Pete should have been here by now. Justin quickly turns on the TV to make sure his watch wasn’t lying to him.
Patting his pockets and turning in circles, he frantically looks through the room. Justin jogs out to the kitchen area and finds his phone vibrating on the counter. It reads ‘6 missed calls.’ He swears under his breath.
Just as he goes to check the calls, it vibrates in his hand. The screen reads ‘Braum’. Another curse escapes Justin’s lips as he flips open the phone.
“Yeah, Lieutenant?”
“Carson!” The gruff voice on the other end screams. “Where the hell have you been?”
“Sorry, sir. Phone was on Vibrate.”
“Well since you’re partner bothered to show up this morning, I already sent him onto the crime scene. You need to get your ass there now!”
“Yes, sir” Justin’s eyes started to roll back into his head as he listened to the address. “Got it.” Justin ended the call and flipped through his missed calls, two from wrong numbers, four from the Lieutenant and none from Pete. With a clap, he flipped the phone shut and deposited it into his right pocket.
Disc 1
Track 9
I’m Seeing Robots
Kool Keith
Black Elvis/Lost in Space
Difference effect to their bodies, sometimes too many to even know.
Justin stepped out from the entrance to his uptown apartment and hailed a nearby taxi. The driver quickly flipped on his light and swung over to the curb. Justin opened the door, sliding into the back seat. He gave the driver the downtown address. At this time of day with traffic, it would easily be a 20 minute cab ride.
As the taxi pulled away, Justin rested his head back against the seat letting out a sigh. The thought crossed his mind that the ride would either give him time to mellow out before the madness of the crime scene or make him really irritable in time for his arrival. Either way, he was going to need to have words with Pete after yesterday and now this morning.
Still, that could wait. 20 minutes will feel like an hour when he was so accustomed to zooming through the streets with lights flashing. He reached into his pocket to check his phone, again. No missed calls from Pete magically appeared since the last time he checked.
Justin closed the phone and deposited it back into his left pocket. He felt sick to his stomach and still achy from his sleep. He wished it was the flu instead of the scarier emotional alternative.
Justin had some of the same feelings, ill effects on the body, after a rough night with Kristy. It was the last straw of their strained relationship, if such a thing could exist. She had questioned his commitment, to the force and to her. That was one thing they could never have in common.
The scene replayed in his head. It was the first time he had ever been aggressive with her. He swung landing his right fist right at the top of her ear. The sickness in his stomach was the same now as he had felt an hour after the blow. He had been proud of his instincts at the time to hit her high on the head so to not leave visible bruises like a shot to the face would have.
Just then, the street sign caught Justin’s eye. It read ‘Pershing Ave’. The taxi had made it to Midtown. He fought down a convulsion from his body. He knew what sign was coming next and didn’t want to read it. He looked up at the ceiling of the cab and closed his eyes. The word “Kristy” escaped from his lips as the taxi cross the intersection marked ‘Dement Ave’.
Disc 1
Track 10
Lonely Day
System of a Down
Hypnotize
And if you go, I wanna go with you. And if you die, I want to die with you.
Justin finally opened his eyes. The taxi was stopped at a red light. A quick look told him they were close their destination. The traffic was getting more congested as they headed into the business district downtown.
The pain in Justin’s stomach had died down. He wasn’t sure if he actually made himself pass out or what, but the taxi made it ten blocks in seemly no time. His newfound health gave him the courage to get his phone back out and do something he felt he should have done as soon as he left his apartment.
He scrolled through his phonebook and picked our Pete’s number. Justin pressed the ‘SEND’ button knowing there was no turning back now. It rang twice before it was answered with an abrupt, “Yeah?”
“Hey, it’s Justin.”
“Yeah,” the voice was irritated.
“I am stuck in a cab and hitting traffic, I should be there in another 10 minutes.”
“Braum call ya?” Justin could hear the cigarette sitting between Pete’s lips in the corner of his mouth.
“Yep, he was almost as cheerful as you this morning. Do we have a lot of looky loos to deal with?”
“It is downtown, everyone and their brother is down here.” Pete paused to take a drag. “Probably why you are stuck in traffic. We shut down the block and rerouted traffic. You might need to hoof it from Cascade St on down to here.”
“Got it.” Justin paused for a second as he heard Pete have another toke. “Hey Pete, I was the idiot yesterday man. Wasn’t your fault. I get a little up tight thinking about someone copying an ‘X’ murder.”
“Don’t worry, I only pissed blood for the next hour. Nice and clear today though.” A half grunt, half laugh came out of the phone.
Justin let his laugh go, that was Pete. He was a bull and could handle anything. The memory quickly came to mind of the time they needed to enter a nightclub on a raid. The bouncer was twice Pete’s size and before he could get his badge out the big skin head literally tossed him across the street. Pete’s faced was covered in blood from a broke nose and he had horrible road rash up his left arm. He got back up and kneed the guy right in the nuts, then flashed his badge as he laid their in pain. He set his nose back himself and had Justin take a picture. It still hangs on the corkboard next to his desk like a badge of honor.
“Well, hopefully you guys aren’t waiting on me then.”
“Actually we are,” Pete replied. “There was an ‘X’ on her thigh.”
Justin had to scramble to pick the phone back up off the taxi floor boards. He could hear Pete asking if he was ok or something along those lines. He managed to say, “There in 5” before shoving the phone into his right pocket.
The taxi driver stopped and he paid the man. His blood was pumping so hard now that he felt he could have run the entire distance from his apartment to the crime scene in 10 minutes. The 12 blocks that he had to go was going to be a piece of cake.
Showing posts with label Snake's CD Project. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Snake's CD Project. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Snakester's CD Project Part 3
Note: I did my best to shorten my segments cause I couldn't keep generating that much info each time. Hopefully now that I have kinda set the stage I can move a little fast through the story. I still don't know where I am going. I figure if I ever finished I would have to rewrite the beginning part to make sure clues are consistent.
Disc 1
Track 5
No You Girls
Franz Ferdinand
Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
Lick your cigarette, then kiss me.
Justin took the pack of Marlboro Lights from his shirt pocket. The silver lighter was always in his left pants’ pocket, a stable piece of his life. He flipped the lighter open and the orange flame shot out into the air. The tobacco glowed red at the end of the cigarette as he took his first drag. The nicotine, the surging rush of life, hit his lungs and flooded into his blood stream. The first exhale of smoke brought a smile to his face.
Justin had finished taking pictures of the scene. The coroner had cleared the body and carted it off to the morgue. His initial report didn’t tell Justin anything he didn’t already know about the time of death, some time last night. The other detectives and crime scene crew arrived shortly after. He needed to get out of the crowd. He left Pete to handle the transfer of information.
If someone needed him, they would know where to find him. He found serenity outside the house with his smokes. It crossed his mind that he really only smokes at work. His apartment was non-smoking, but he could still go out onto the balcony if he wished. Yet, he never did. Kristy never approved of his smoking, either. She eventually got him to quit doing it at home. He must have kept that habit.
Justin took another drag as the cigarette hit his lips. He felt alive, relaxed. The burden of the crime scene lifted from his shoulders. The burning tobacco transported his thoughts away.
Kristy was standing in front of him. She wore the red dress that displayed her ample breasts. Her lipstick matched the dress. Her beautiful blonde hair was curled and resting on her shoulders. She walked up to Justin and kissed him on the lips.
“You ready?”
“Yeah,” Justin replied slowly with whatever breath he could manage back into his lungs.
They headed out the door to Justin’s waiting car. He opened the door for her as sat down in the passenger seat. He ran back over to the driver’s side and sped the car off into the night.
He exhaled the smoke from his lungs. He looked down at the white stick in his right hand between the middle and ring finger. The cigarette was down to the filter, time to get back to work. He flicked it off into the yard as he walked back into the house.
Disc 1
Track 6
Burn the Witch
Queens of the Stoneage
Lullabies to Paralyze
Fan the flames with a little lie, then turn your cheek until the fire dies.
The afternoon edition of the paper was on Justin’s desk when he got back to the station. The head line read, ‘Xerox Killer Strikes!’ Justin’s forehead creased as he continued to read the story.
“What the hell?”
“Hey,” Pete called as he walked over. “Do you like the name?”
“You told the press about the x? You named our killer?” The creases intensified on Justin’s forehead. He could feel his right ear start to burn.
“Yeah, pretty clever, huh? You get it? Xerox, copy of the X killer.” Pete took a sip from his coffee cup. “Those newspaper guys loved it.”
The paper in Justin’s hands hit the floor as he swung. His right fist landed hard into Pete’s gut. The coffee splashed out of the cup across the tile flooring. Pete fell to a knee as he doubled over clutching his arms across his stomach. He was coughing coffee out of his lungs.
“How fucking stupid can you be? We don’t even know that it was a copy cat!” Justin’s chest bulged from the rage he felt. Both of his ears felt like they were on fire now. His fist was still clenched tight, ready to strike again.
“You’re just jealous, you fucking glory hound!”
Pete lunged up to his feet trying to throw a punch. The gap was too large. Justin easily dodged the attempt and shoved Pete back onto the floor.
“Let me know when you decide to stop doing sloppy police work.” Justin bent down and picked up the coffee soaked newspaper. He threw it in the trash next to his desk as he walked off.
Disc 1
Track 7
Lie Lie Lie
Serj Tarkian
Elect the Dead
She took my hand and I let her go. She broke her little bones on the boulders below.
Store front lights and neon signs lit up the night. The streets were buzzing in the downtime district. Even at 11 p.m., the denizens were still active as if it were noon. The district never slept.
A lady stood looking out the window of her upstairs apartment down onto the bustle of the streets. She ran the book shop and cafe below, which closed at ten. Her arms stretched over her head as she yawned. She pulled the shade on the window, it was extra thick to block out the lights of the street.
She flipped the light switch with her left hand as she walked into the bathroom. She picked up the brush lying on the sink and began to stroke her hair. A few strands of her brunette hair stuck in the brush. She grabbed a band from a draw and tied her hair back behind her head.
Suddenly, her head whips around to face the door to the apartment. Footsteps can be heard coming up the stairway. Her eyebrows drop and her eyes narrow. She slowly walks to the door and places her ear against it. Her face strains as he presses her head harder against the door.
She shuts her left eye to look through the peep hole with her right. A single bulb illuminates the landing at the top of the stairway in front of her door. There is no movement outside.
She steps away from the door slowly running her hand back over her hair. She reaches over and undoes the chain from the door. She flips open the deadbolt as slowly as she can. The click seems as loud as a car horn. She turns the knob to open the door.
As the door opened a crack, she is thrown backwards by a shove on the other side of the door. She lands back onto the floor, knocking her head on the hard wood. She looks back in time to see a figure hit the light switch by the door turning off the lights in the apartment.
She struggles to her feet. Then, the attacker swings. Her eyes clench shut and her mouth gapes open. She contorts her body to the right as the knife is withdrawn from her rib cage. She bites her lip as she kicks out. Her shin sweeps the legs of the attacker. The knife rattles off into the corner of the room as the figure hits the floor.
She struggles onto her knees heading to the door. Her mouth opens as to scream, but nothing comes out. She holds her side as she makes it out onto the landing.
The attacker grabs her hand as she tries to head to a back window and the fire escape. The jerk throws her off balance. The attacker continues pulling and sends her tumbling down the stairs. The crunch of her bones breaking echoes in the stairwell.
Her body comes to rest in a corner at the bottom of the stairs. Her head is jammed into the wall. The legs of her lifeless body lay across the first two steps. The attacker stood at the top staring at the body for a moment. The heavy breathing seemed very audible in the silence.
The attacker walked back into the apartment and picked up the knife. With a gloved hand, the apartment door was shut. Next, the attacker reached up and unscrewed the light bulb the illuminated the landing at the top of the stair.
The attacker stopped at the bottom of the stairs. Using the knife, an X was carved into her right thigh that was exposed below her shorts. The attacker wiped the drops of blood of on her shirt and walked out the door into the noise and chaos of the busy streets.
Disc 1
Track 5
No You Girls
Franz Ferdinand
Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
Lick your cigarette, then kiss me.
Justin took the pack of Marlboro Lights from his shirt pocket. The silver lighter was always in his left pants’ pocket, a stable piece of his life. He flipped the lighter open and the orange flame shot out into the air. The tobacco glowed red at the end of the cigarette as he took his first drag. The nicotine, the surging rush of life, hit his lungs and flooded into his blood stream. The first exhale of smoke brought a smile to his face.
Justin had finished taking pictures of the scene. The coroner had cleared the body and carted it off to the morgue. His initial report didn’t tell Justin anything he didn’t already know about the time of death, some time last night. The other detectives and crime scene crew arrived shortly after. He needed to get out of the crowd. He left Pete to handle the transfer of information.
If someone needed him, they would know where to find him. He found serenity outside the house with his smokes. It crossed his mind that he really only smokes at work. His apartment was non-smoking, but he could still go out onto the balcony if he wished. Yet, he never did. Kristy never approved of his smoking, either. She eventually got him to quit doing it at home. He must have kept that habit.
Justin took another drag as the cigarette hit his lips. He felt alive, relaxed. The burden of the crime scene lifted from his shoulders. The burning tobacco transported his thoughts away.
Kristy was standing in front of him. She wore the red dress that displayed her ample breasts. Her lipstick matched the dress. Her beautiful blonde hair was curled and resting on her shoulders. She walked up to Justin and kissed him on the lips.
“You ready?”
“Yeah,” Justin replied slowly with whatever breath he could manage back into his lungs.
They headed out the door to Justin’s waiting car. He opened the door for her as sat down in the passenger seat. He ran back over to the driver’s side and sped the car off into the night.
He exhaled the smoke from his lungs. He looked down at the white stick in his right hand between the middle and ring finger. The cigarette was down to the filter, time to get back to work. He flicked it off into the yard as he walked back into the house.
Disc 1
Track 6
Burn the Witch
Queens of the Stoneage
Lullabies to Paralyze
Fan the flames with a little lie, then turn your cheek until the fire dies.
The afternoon edition of the paper was on Justin’s desk when he got back to the station. The head line read, ‘Xerox Killer Strikes!’ Justin’s forehead creased as he continued to read the story.
“What the hell?”
“Hey,” Pete called as he walked over. “Do you like the name?”
“You told the press about the x? You named our killer?” The creases intensified on Justin’s forehead. He could feel his right ear start to burn.
“Yeah, pretty clever, huh? You get it? Xerox, copy of the X killer.” Pete took a sip from his coffee cup. “Those newspaper guys loved it.”
The paper in Justin’s hands hit the floor as he swung. His right fist landed hard into Pete’s gut. The coffee splashed out of the cup across the tile flooring. Pete fell to a knee as he doubled over clutching his arms across his stomach. He was coughing coffee out of his lungs.
“How fucking stupid can you be? We don’t even know that it was a copy cat!” Justin’s chest bulged from the rage he felt. Both of his ears felt like they were on fire now. His fist was still clenched tight, ready to strike again.
“You’re just jealous, you fucking glory hound!”
Pete lunged up to his feet trying to throw a punch. The gap was too large. Justin easily dodged the attempt and shoved Pete back onto the floor.
“Let me know when you decide to stop doing sloppy police work.” Justin bent down and picked up the coffee soaked newspaper. He threw it in the trash next to his desk as he walked off.
Disc 1
Track 7
Lie Lie Lie
Serj Tarkian
Elect the Dead
She took my hand and I let her go. She broke her little bones on the boulders below.
Store front lights and neon signs lit up the night. The streets were buzzing in the downtime district. Even at 11 p.m., the denizens were still active as if it were noon. The district never slept.
A lady stood looking out the window of her upstairs apartment down onto the bustle of the streets. She ran the book shop and cafe below, which closed at ten. Her arms stretched over her head as she yawned. She pulled the shade on the window, it was extra thick to block out the lights of the street.
She flipped the light switch with her left hand as she walked into the bathroom. She picked up the brush lying on the sink and began to stroke her hair. A few strands of her brunette hair stuck in the brush. She grabbed a band from a draw and tied her hair back behind her head.
Suddenly, her head whips around to face the door to the apartment. Footsteps can be heard coming up the stairway. Her eyebrows drop and her eyes narrow. She slowly walks to the door and places her ear against it. Her face strains as he presses her head harder against the door.
She shuts her left eye to look through the peep hole with her right. A single bulb illuminates the landing at the top of the stairway in front of her door. There is no movement outside.
She steps away from the door slowly running her hand back over her hair. She reaches over and undoes the chain from the door. She flips open the deadbolt as slowly as she can. The click seems as loud as a car horn. She turns the knob to open the door.
As the door opened a crack, she is thrown backwards by a shove on the other side of the door. She lands back onto the floor, knocking her head on the hard wood. She looks back in time to see a figure hit the light switch by the door turning off the lights in the apartment.
She struggles to her feet. Then, the attacker swings. Her eyes clench shut and her mouth gapes open. She contorts her body to the right as the knife is withdrawn from her rib cage. She bites her lip as she kicks out. Her shin sweeps the legs of the attacker. The knife rattles off into the corner of the room as the figure hits the floor.
She struggles onto her knees heading to the door. Her mouth opens as to scream, but nothing comes out. She holds her side as she makes it out onto the landing.
The attacker grabs her hand as she tries to head to a back window and the fire escape. The jerk throws her off balance. The attacker continues pulling and sends her tumbling down the stairs. The crunch of her bones breaking echoes in the stairwell.
Her body comes to rest in a corner at the bottom of the stairs. Her head is jammed into the wall. The legs of her lifeless body lay across the first two steps. The attacker stood at the top staring at the body for a moment. The heavy breathing seemed very audible in the silence.
The attacker walked back into the apartment and picked up the knife. With a gloved hand, the apartment door was shut. Next, the attacker reached up and unscrewed the light bulb the illuminated the landing at the top of the stair.
The attacker stopped at the bottom of the stairs. Using the knife, an X was carved into her right thigh that was exposed below her shorts. The attacker wiped the drops of blood of on her shirt and walked out the door into the noise and chaos of the busy streets.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Snake's CD Project - #2
Note: I've had a hard time finding time to write. I had this piece down for awhile. So I did another edit and decided this was better than nothing. I think I need to try to cut down the lenght of my sections. I dont know how I could write 38 chapters of this lenght.
Disc 1
Track 4
House of Doom
Black Label Society
Hangover Music Vol. IV
Once you step inside, no one gets out alive.
Pete had to slow down to a crawl as they neared the home. On-lookers crowded the street corner. The police line was in full force needing to cover twice the area with a corner lot. They managed to break the crowd enough for Pete to pull the blue Ford up to the curb in front of the manor.
Justin scanned the crowd. Expression of concern and shock ruled the sea of faces. Things like this don’t happen in this neighborhood. He looked around the corner to see the news van already in place. Regret for his late arrival crept into him, even though being first on the scene wouldn’t have helped anyway.
The patrol sergeant, Grimly was etched into his shield, met Justin and Pete as they exited the car. Pete grabbed a box labeled ‘crime scene kit’ out of the back seat.
“The scene’s been secure since patrol arrived, detectives. The responding officer found the front door to be unlocked.” The three of them began to walk up the sidewalk. “He reported going straight upstairs, then immediately back out the way he came when he saw the body. No one else has been in.” Grimly looked up from the notepad he was reading the report from.
“Good,” Justin replied nodding his head in approval. “Tell your man he did a good job. Now, just hold that line and we’ll take care of it from here.”
The coroner was standing over on the other street leaning against his vehicle. He saw them and just pointed to his watch. Justin smiled the biggest fake grin he could muster and waved. He turned to Pete now, “You can check the doors, windows and the perimeter.”
“And you get the body, of course.” Pete opened the crime scene kit. Justin reached in and grabbed a pair of white latex gloves, a flashlight and some collection bags.
As they opened the front door, Pete checked it over while Justin placed covers over his shoes. “Front door looks normal,” Pete reported.
“I know this is a nice neighborhood, but I don’t believe someone leaves their front door unlocked.” Justin looked back towards the ever growing crowd. “Go around the house and look for other points of entry.”
Pete turned and went off around the side of the house. Justin stepped inside the house. Even in the early morning, the house was still dark. Most of the curtains were drawn, but there was sunlight through the hallway from the kitchen. He turned on his flashlight doing a quick sweep of the area. The carpet was clean, railings dusted, the curtains looked freshly steamed. In the living room, there were decorative pillows placed perfectly on the couch. Candles sat on the coffee table, coasters in their holders. The desk in the study wasn’t as orderly. A calculator was still on and some glasses were tossed on top of it.
Justin proceeded up the stairs to find the body. His nostril caught the sweet smell of blood, a lot of it. The flashlight spotted the legs sticking out from the bedroom doorway. As he walked closer, he could see the carpet was a deep red now and the man’s shirt was pulled out in the back.
As he lifted the shirt tail, a lightening bolt hit him in the chest. His hand caught the door jamb stopping his fall to the floor. His breath was gone. It wasn’t the smell, it wasn’t the sight of the blood and entrails, it was the X carved into the back. “Impossible,” he whispered to himself.
“Looks like the back door lock was picked. Real amateur job, too!” Pete’s voice startled Justin out of his shock. The air finally returned to his lungs. “You alright?” Pete asked as he hurried over.
“Look,” Justin lifted the shirt tail pointing to the knife marks.
“What the? Didn’t you catch the X man years ago?”
“Yeah, took me two years.” He would lay awake at night trying to figure out the psycho’s next move. He dedicated his life to catching him. It was his first big case as a detective and it had made him a legend in the city. The sight flashed back into his brain, the X man being walked into a room. The room where no one gets out alive.
“Copycat?”
“I dunno. It has been awhile. Usually they surface shortly after you nab the real killer. But it definitely seems familiar.” Justin pulled the wallet from the back pocket to confirm what he already knew. Ed Henley’s name and picture stared back at him. Sadness filled Justin’s heart as the questions filled his head: why kill him, why come here, and why do it like this?
“The X man preferred women,” Justin continued on. “Although, they were usually wealthy spending nights alone while their husband worked. Did you see if anyone contacted the wife?”
“I’ll go check that.” Pete started for the stairs.
“We need to find the maid, too!”
“How do you know that?” Pete retorted.
Justin took the index and middle finger of his right hand and pointed them back at his eyes. Then, he pointed towards the downstairs and made a circular motion with his finger.
“Of course,” Pete sounded disappointed in himself. “I’ll go let the coroner in.” With that, he was back down the stairs and out the door.
Justin’s mind raced through the crime scenes of the past. The X on the back meant even if Justin hadn’t been on the scene, he would have been called later. It was a perfect replica. It was the only thing that was a good copy. The X man worked the neck. Justin couldn’t remember the last time he had ever seen a gutting.
He had gone to Ed years earlier in need of a loan for their house and had continued a friendly relationship since. No threats to his life came to Justin’s mind. He was sure that being president of the largest bank in town probably brought some kind of danger, but that still didn’t feel right. He knew Ed fairly well, he knew the X man even better.
Disc 1
Track 4
House of Doom
Black Label Society
Hangover Music Vol. IV
Once you step inside, no one gets out alive.
Pete had to slow down to a crawl as they neared the home. On-lookers crowded the street corner. The police line was in full force needing to cover twice the area with a corner lot. They managed to break the crowd enough for Pete to pull the blue Ford up to the curb in front of the manor.
Justin scanned the crowd. Expression of concern and shock ruled the sea of faces. Things like this don’t happen in this neighborhood. He looked around the corner to see the news van already in place. Regret for his late arrival crept into him, even though being first on the scene wouldn’t have helped anyway.
The patrol sergeant, Grimly was etched into his shield, met Justin and Pete as they exited the car. Pete grabbed a box labeled ‘crime scene kit’ out of the back seat.
“The scene’s been secure since patrol arrived, detectives. The responding officer found the front door to be unlocked.” The three of them began to walk up the sidewalk. “He reported going straight upstairs, then immediately back out the way he came when he saw the body. No one else has been in.” Grimly looked up from the notepad he was reading the report from.
“Good,” Justin replied nodding his head in approval. “Tell your man he did a good job. Now, just hold that line and we’ll take care of it from here.”
The coroner was standing over on the other street leaning against his vehicle. He saw them and just pointed to his watch. Justin smiled the biggest fake grin he could muster and waved. He turned to Pete now, “You can check the doors, windows and the perimeter.”
“And you get the body, of course.” Pete opened the crime scene kit. Justin reached in and grabbed a pair of white latex gloves, a flashlight and some collection bags.
As they opened the front door, Pete checked it over while Justin placed covers over his shoes. “Front door looks normal,” Pete reported.
“I know this is a nice neighborhood, but I don’t believe someone leaves their front door unlocked.” Justin looked back towards the ever growing crowd. “Go around the house and look for other points of entry.”
Pete turned and went off around the side of the house. Justin stepped inside the house. Even in the early morning, the house was still dark. Most of the curtains were drawn, but there was sunlight through the hallway from the kitchen. He turned on his flashlight doing a quick sweep of the area. The carpet was clean, railings dusted, the curtains looked freshly steamed. In the living room, there were decorative pillows placed perfectly on the couch. Candles sat on the coffee table, coasters in their holders. The desk in the study wasn’t as orderly. A calculator was still on and some glasses were tossed on top of it.
Justin proceeded up the stairs to find the body. His nostril caught the sweet smell of blood, a lot of it. The flashlight spotted the legs sticking out from the bedroom doorway. As he walked closer, he could see the carpet was a deep red now and the man’s shirt was pulled out in the back.
As he lifted the shirt tail, a lightening bolt hit him in the chest. His hand caught the door jamb stopping his fall to the floor. His breath was gone. It wasn’t the smell, it wasn’t the sight of the blood and entrails, it was the X carved into the back. “Impossible,” he whispered to himself.
“Looks like the back door lock was picked. Real amateur job, too!” Pete’s voice startled Justin out of his shock. The air finally returned to his lungs. “You alright?” Pete asked as he hurried over.
“Look,” Justin lifted the shirt tail pointing to the knife marks.
“What the? Didn’t you catch the X man years ago?”
“Yeah, took me two years.” He would lay awake at night trying to figure out the psycho’s next move. He dedicated his life to catching him. It was his first big case as a detective and it had made him a legend in the city. The sight flashed back into his brain, the X man being walked into a room. The room where no one gets out alive.
“Copycat?”
“I dunno. It has been awhile. Usually they surface shortly after you nab the real killer. But it definitely seems familiar.” Justin pulled the wallet from the back pocket to confirm what he already knew. Ed Henley’s name and picture stared back at him. Sadness filled Justin’s heart as the questions filled his head: why kill him, why come here, and why do it like this?
“The X man preferred women,” Justin continued on. “Although, they were usually wealthy spending nights alone while their husband worked. Did you see if anyone contacted the wife?”
“I’ll go check that.” Pete started for the stairs.
“We need to find the maid, too!”
“How do you know that?” Pete retorted.
Justin took the index and middle finger of his right hand and pointed them back at his eyes. Then, he pointed towards the downstairs and made a circular motion with his finger.
“Of course,” Pete sounded disappointed in himself. “I’ll go let the coroner in.” With that, he was back down the stairs and out the door.
Justin’s mind raced through the crime scenes of the past. The X on the back meant even if Justin hadn’t been on the scene, he would have been called later. It was a perfect replica. It was the only thing that was a good copy. The X man worked the neck. Justin couldn’t remember the last time he had ever seen a gutting.
He had gone to Ed years earlier in need of a loan for their house and had continued a friendly relationship since. No threats to his life came to Justin’s mind. He was sure that being president of the largest bank in town probably brought some kind of danger, but that still didn’t feel right. He knew Ed fairly well, he knew the X man even better.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Snake's CD Project Story
Note: Just as Red has done, I will be doing for my CD full of songs. I believe I ended up with two CDs of 38 songs, down from the original 44 I had picked out. I didn't wanna make a third CD and I figured I could cut some of the lesser stuff. Anyway here is the first part of my story.
Disc 1
Track 1
Three Fingers
Buckethead & Friends
Enter The Chicken
Sits alone, he’s at home, rafted in a sea of blackness.
The sky was clear this night. The moon’s glow drowned out the stars and illuminated the tops of the elm trees in the yard. Even with the front porch light off, someone could still read the gold plate next to the door that said ‘Henleys’. The large house sat empty and dark in the night, except for a single light in a study downstairs. A man sat at the desk wearing reading glasses that scooted down his nose as he looked over some papers. He would occasionally stop to punch numbers into the large calculator sitting next to him. Then, he would scribble the answers onto another sheet of paper. He itched the top his head, a few strands of his graying hair fell onto his shoulders. They were promptly brushed off onto the floor.
After a long yawn, he took off the reading glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Bags had developed underneath his eyes; the whites became redder with each passing minute. This time he left the glasses on the desk. He neatly piled the papers together into one stack. Opening the top drawer on the left side of the desk, he filed them and shut the drawer back. The chair slid back as he arose with a distinct crack in both his knees. The green banker’s lamp on his desk was enough light to illuminate the entire study at night. He stared at it briefly before pulling the chain.
He fumbled slightly in the dark, but still found the switch for the light switch. It illuminated the open staircase leading to the second floor. He turned back around checking the lock on the front door. The switch on the knob and the dead bolt were both turned vertical. The brass almost glowed in his dark eyes as the light reflected off of it. Turning back he proceeded up the stairs holding firmly onto the railing with his left hand.
He had ascended halfway up the stairs when a sudden pop caught his action. He looked back downstairs. The house was dark and empty. He held the railing tight as he tried to maneuver to get a better look down the first floor hall into the kitchen. No sound repeated. He shook his head and stuck a finger into his right ear. He moved it around and picked out a bit of yellow wax. He continued his climb up the stairs.
At the top he flipped on the upstairs hall lift and switched off the one lighting the staircase. His feet dragged on the thick carpet as he shuffled down the hall. Finally, at the end of the hall he opened the third door.
He felt the sting in his abdomen before the hand across his mouth. A second thrust drug the knife down his gut making a cross pattern. His mouth tried to clench down on one of the gloved fingers. It was too late. His insides were already spilling onto the floor. The killer grunted struggling to hold up the old man who had gone limp. The man’s dark eyes grew darker as the life faded from them. The killer gently laid the victim down on his stomach. His entrails continued to slip out of his body, the blood soaking deep into the thick carpet.
The killer pulled the old man’s shirt out of the back of his pants. Two small incisions were made into the small of the back in the shape of an X. Then, the killer wiped the knife off on the man’s shirt. Just as quickly and quietly, the old man was alone in the house again.
Disc 1
Track 2
Asleep on the Trail of Tears
The Louie’s
Fruit of the Louie’s
Light of day, dark of night, I don’t wanna be part of the fight.
Justin sat at the edge of his bed. The morning sun shined through the bedroom window forcing the issue every morning. Rubbing his hands over his face one more time, he got up with a sigh and headed off to the bathroom.
The cold water stung as he splashed it across his face. He checked his stubble in the mirror. He could go another day without a shave. He had no reason to keep it clean and smooth. Others at work often commented that it made him look tougher on the job anyway.
After a quick shower, he headed to the closet. It was full of wrinkled shirts, most of which only half hung on their hangers. Most of the pants were on the floor, he grabbed the one pair that wasn’t. He flipped through the three white shirts in the middle of the closet. He grabbed the middle one with noticeably less wrinkles than the other two.
Justin had just slipped on his watch when the doorbell rang. At quick look at the watch showed 8:05. He cursed under his breath as he hurriedly tucked in his shirt and grabbed his wallet off the nightstand. He didn’t even make it to the kitchen this time.
Moving quickly through the living room, Justin opened the front door. A slightly shorter man stood there. He had a sideways smile across his face that usually accompanied a smart-ass remark. Pete, Justin’s partner although he didn’t call him that, held a coffee in each hand.
“Here,” Pete handed Justin the coffee out of his left hand. “I figured you wouldn’t have any made for yourself this morning. You’ve been running later each day.”
“Yeah, thanks.” Justin took a quick sip from the travel cup. He could feel the warm liquid travel all the way down his throat into his stomach. The caffeine gave him the instant boost he had come to rely on in the mornings.
“Come on chief, we are needed already. The coroner will probably be waiting for us to clear the body.” Pete ran his tongue over his moustache after the last sip of coffee.
“Yeah, I’m ready. Hell of a way to start the morning.”
They made their way down the stairs from Justin’s apartment out to the street. A dark blue Ford was parked on the side of the street. The fresh coat of wax reflected the light of day beautifully.
“That is one thing I will never regret,” Justin started in as he opened the passenger door.
“What’s that?”
“Giving you the car. She’s never looked better.”
“Well, I see your apartment every day. I figure you could use one clean sanctuary.”
“Yeah, just drive you wise ass.” Justin sipped on his coffee again. The apartment didn’t always used to look that way. Well, yes it did, it was your house that was nice. His thoughts drifted for a moment. There was a beautiful woman standing in the kitchen. She was making eggs and bacon. He kissed her cheek as he walked by with the morning paper.
“So, like I was saying,” Pete’s voice split through the daydream causing a new headache to form in Justin’s brain. “We gotta get to the scene, real nasty one I am told. This old guy got cut open and his guts are everywhere.”
“Lovely, I’m glad I didn’t have time to eat.”
“What’s with you lately, man? You used to love this shit!” Pete accelerated the blue Ford whether he knew it or not.
“I used to love a lot of things Pete. But like everything else, those things change. People change. Staring death in the face every day, fighting in the eternal struggle of good guys versus bad guys can wear on you. You’ve still got a bit of your life ahead of you, don’t become too obsessed. Eventually, it will ruin you.” Justin left it at that. He hoped that was enough to get Pete to shut up for a little bit. He had a tendency to get a little feisty, a little too excited. Death should excite no one.
The blue Ford traveled on. The inside now absent of chatter. Justin opened the glove box. He grabbed the red light that was inside and plugged it into the cigarette lighter. Rolling down the window, he slapped the light onto the roof off the Ford. He held it for a second to make sure the magnet held. Pete nodded. The Ford’s engine revved loudly as it accelerated down the street, fulfilling its duty to its masters.
Disc 1
Track 3
All Messed Up
The Donnas
Spend The Night
I just can’t get you out of my head.
Pete was a good driver, which was one thing Justin liked about him. He sped through the busy streets with nothing but the red light and an occasional sounding of the horn as a warning to the other cars. Granted everyone was probably waiting for them at the crime scene, but Justin still saw no need to rush things. He stared out the window watching the buildings and houses whiz by giving him just enough time to make out the color of each one.
He felt more tired than usual this morning. His empty, rickety bed did him no favors. He thought he would have adjusted by now, but each passing night was worse. Months had passed, so many he lost count now. He had told Pete she kicked him out. That wasn’t the truth. He couldn’t remember what was anymore. It was lost somewhere in the sleepless nights and the longing memories that followed.
Four years they had been together, that much he did remember. He made detective shortly afterwards. She had to have known what she was getting into. I am who I am. He remembered saying that phrase several times. The truth can turn to evil if shoved in someone’s face too many times. Pete would always retort that we are who we make ourselves to be.
“Kristy,” the name slipped out in a breath between his lips. Pete was honking the horn again and concentrating on the road. No way could he have heard.
These thoughts made his head hurt even more, just like it did every night. “So where are we going?”
“Out to Tilton Park, the manor on the corner of Elm and Apple. Henley’s place.” Just like a good cop, Pete spit out the information sounding more like a computer than a human being.
“Ed Henley’s place? The president of First State Bank?” The shock of the name broke the headache.
“Yeah, that sounds right. You know ‘em?”
Quickly, Justin back peddled to hide his thoughts, “Well, doesn’t everyone?”
“Not me. Although, I guess we will know him a little better in a few.” Pete cranked the wheel to make a sharp left. The houses changed. They were almost there, the nice part of the city.
Disc 1
Track 1
Three Fingers
Buckethead & Friends
Enter The Chicken
Sits alone, he’s at home, rafted in a sea of blackness.
The sky was clear this night. The moon’s glow drowned out the stars and illuminated the tops of the elm trees in the yard. Even with the front porch light off, someone could still read the gold plate next to the door that said ‘Henleys’. The large house sat empty and dark in the night, except for a single light in a study downstairs. A man sat at the desk wearing reading glasses that scooted down his nose as he looked over some papers. He would occasionally stop to punch numbers into the large calculator sitting next to him. Then, he would scribble the answers onto another sheet of paper. He itched the top his head, a few strands of his graying hair fell onto his shoulders. They were promptly brushed off onto the floor.
After a long yawn, he took off the reading glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Bags had developed underneath his eyes; the whites became redder with each passing minute. This time he left the glasses on the desk. He neatly piled the papers together into one stack. Opening the top drawer on the left side of the desk, he filed them and shut the drawer back. The chair slid back as he arose with a distinct crack in both his knees. The green banker’s lamp on his desk was enough light to illuminate the entire study at night. He stared at it briefly before pulling the chain.
He fumbled slightly in the dark, but still found the switch for the light switch. It illuminated the open staircase leading to the second floor. He turned back around checking the lock on the front door. The switch on the knob and the dead bolt were both turned vertical. The brass almost glowed in his dark eyes as the light reflected off of it. Turning back he proceeded up the stairs holding firmly onto the railing with his left hand.
He had ascended halfway up the stairs when a sudden pop caught his action. He looked back downstairs. The house was dark and empty. He held the railing tight as he tried to maneuver to get a better look down the first floor hall into the kitchen. No sound repeated. He shook his head and stuck a finger into his right ear. He moved it around and picked out a bit of yellow wax. He continued his climb up the stairs.
At the top he flipped on the upstairs hall lift and switched off the one lighting the staircase. His feet dragged on the thick carpet as he shuffled down the hall. Finally, at the end of the hall he opened the third door.
He felt the sting in his abdomen before the hand across his mouth. A second thrust drug the knife down his gut making a cross pattern. His mouth tried to clench down on one of the gloved fingers. It was too late. His insides were already spilling onto the floor. The killer grunted struggling to hold up the old man who had gone limp. The man’s dark eyes grew darker as the life faded from them. The killer gently laid the victim down on his stomach. His entrails continued to slip out of his body, the blood soaking deep into the thick carpet.
The killer pulled the old man’s shirt out of the back of his pants. Two small incisions were made into the small of the back in the shape of an X. Then, the killer wiped the knife off on the man’s shirt. Just as quickly and quietly, the old man was alone in the house again.
Disc 1
Track 2
Asleep on the Trail of Tears
The Louie’s
Fruit of the Louie’s
Light of day, dark of night, I don’t wanna be part of the fight.
Justin sat at the edge of his bed. The morning sun shined through the bedroom window forcing the issue every morning. Rubbing his hands over his face one more time, he got up with a sigh and headed off to the bathroom.
The cold water stung as he splashed it across his face. He checked his stubble in the mirror. He could go another day without a shave. He had no reason to keep it clean and smooth. Others at work often commented that it made him look tougher on the job anyway.
After a quick shower, he headed to the closet. It was full of wrinkled shirts, most of which only half hung on their hangers. Most of the pants were on the floor, he grabbed the one pair that wasn’t. He flipped through the three white shirts in the middle of the closet. He grabbed the middle one with noticeably less wrinkles than the other two.
Justin had just slipped on his watch when the doorbell rang. At quick look at the watch showed 8:05. He cursed under his breath as he hurriedly tucked in his shirt and grabbed his wallet off the nightstand. He didn’t even make it to the kitchen this time.
Moving quickly through the living room, Justin opened the front door. A slightly shorter man stood there. He had a sideways smile across his face that usually accompanied a smart-ass remark. Pete, Justin’s partner although he didn’t call him that, held a coffee in each hand.
“Here,” Pete handed Justin the coffee out of his left hand. “I figured you wouldn’t have any made for yourself this morning. You’ve been running later each day.”
“Yeah, thanks.” Justin took a quick sip from the travel cup. He could feel the warm liquid travel all the way down his throat into his stomach. The caffeine gave him the instant boost he had come to rely on in the mornings.
“Come on chief, we are needed already. The coroner will probably be waiting for us to clear the body.” Pete ran his tongue over his moustache after the last sip of coffee.
“Yeah, I’m ready. Hell of a way to start the morning.”
They made their way down the stairs from Justin’s apartment out to the street. A dark blue Ford was parked on the side of the street. The fresh coat of wax reflected the light of day beautifully.
“That is one thing I will never regret,” Justin started in as he opened the passenger door.
“What’s that?”
“Giving you the car. She’s never looked better.”
“Well, I see your apartment every day. I figure you could use one clean sanctuary.”
“Yeah, just drive you wise ass.” Justin sipped on his coffee again. The apartment didn’t always used to look that way. Well, yes it did, it was your house that was nice. His thoughts drifted for a moment. There was a beautiful woman standing in the kitchen. She was making eggs and bacon. He kissed her cheek as he walked by with the morning paper.
“So, like I was saying,” Pete’s voice split through the daydream causing a new headache to form in Justin’s brain. “We gotta get to the scene, real nasty one I am told. This old guy got cut open and his guts are everywhere.”
“Lovely, I’m glad I didn’t have time to eat.”
“What’s with you lately, man? You used to love this shit!” Pete accelerated the blue Ford whether he knew it or not.
“I used to love a lot of things Pete. But like everything else, those things change. People change. Staring death in the face every day, fighting in the eternal struggle of good guys versus bad guys can wear on you. You’ve still got a bit of your life ahead of you, don’t become too obsessed. Eventually, it will ruin you.” Justin left it at that. He hoped that was enough to get Pete to shut up for a little bit. He had a tendency to get a little feisty, a little too excited. Death should excite no one.
The blue Ford traveled on. The inside now absent of chatter. Justin opened the glove box. He grabbed the red light that was inside and plugged it into the cigarette lighter. Rolling down the window, he slapped the light onto the roof off the Ford. He held it for a second to make sure the magnet held. Pete nodded. The Ford’s engine revved loudly as it accelerated down the street, fulfilling its duty to its masters.
Disc 1
Track 3
All Messed Up
The Donnas
Spend The Night
I just can’t get you out of my head.
Pete was a good driver, which was one thing Justin liked about him. He sped through the busy streets with nothing but the red light and an occasional sounding of the horn as a warning to the other cars. Granted everyone was probably waiting for them at the crime scene, but Justin still saw no need to rush things. He stared out the window watching the buildings and houses whiz by giving him just enough time to make out the color of each one.
He felt more tired than usual this morning. His empty, rickety bed did him no favors. He thought he would have adjusted by now, but each passing night was worse. Months had passed, so many he lost count now. He had told Pete she kicked him out. That wasn’t the truth. He couldn’t remember what was anymore. It was lost somewhere in the sleepless nights and the longing memories that followed.
Four years they had been together, that much he did remember. He made detective shortly afterwards. She had to have known what she was getting into. I am who I am. He remembered saying that phrase several times. The truth can turn to evil if shoved in someone’s face too many times. Pete would always retort that we are who we make ourselves to be.
“Kristy,” the name slipped out in a breath between his lips. Pete was honking the horn again and concentrating on the road. No way could he have heard.
These thoughts made his head hurt even more, just like it did every night. “So where are we going?”
“Out to Tilton Park, the manor on the corner of Elm and Apple. Henley’s place.” Just like a good cop, Pete spit out the information sounding more like a computer than a human being.
“Ed Henley’s place? The president of First State Bank?” The shock of the name broke the headache.
“Yeah, that sounds right. You know ‘em?”
Quickly, Justin back peddled to hide his thoughts, “Well, doesn’t everyone?”
“Not me. Although, I guess we will know him a little better in a few.” Pete cranked the wheel to make a sharp left. The houses changed. They were almost there, the nice part of the city.
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