{"id":1329,"date":"2019-04-16T04:36:11","date_gmt":"2019-04-16T10:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.angrygames.com\/?p=1329"},"modified":"2019-04-16T04:47:23","modified_gmt":"2019-04-16T10:47:23","slug":"prophecy-working-title-chapters-1-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.angrygames.com\/?p=1329","title":{"rendered":"Prophecy (working title) &#8211; Chapters 1-3"},"content":{"rendered":"<style type=\"text\/css\">\np, li { white-space: pre-wrap; }<br \/>\n<\/style>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: 600;\">CHAPTER 1. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-paragraph-type: empty; -qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;\">\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cListen, asshole,\u201d Detective Izir growled to the frightened man on the other side of the interrogation room table. \u201cI don\u2019t know what the fuck is wrong with your brain, but you better jumpstart it quick because you\u2019re completely fucking boned.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI\u2026I don\u2019t kn\u2014\u201d George stuttered, his voice cracking as if he were going through puberty a second time. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cBullshit!\u201d Izir thundered, slamming both palms down on the table hard enough to make both the suspect and his partner jump in fright. \u201cWe\u2019ve got you on fucking camera <\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: italic;\">and<\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"> so much DNA evidence you must have bled, shit, jizzed, and fucking spit all over her!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">George Krotus began to cry. Detective Franklin took a step toward the table but her partner held up a hand to keep her on the periphery. Izir rose from his chair, eyes bloodshot with rage, his breath coming in raspy gasps as he fought to control his temper. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI\u2019m going to ask you one more fucking time,\u201d he said, keeping his voice as steady as he could. \u201cWhy did you do it?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI didn\u2019t do anything!\u201d George screamed. \u201cI was at home! I swear it on Heavenly Father!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Detective Izir opened his mouth to lay out a number of threats he planned to turn into promises but his partner grabbed him by the bicep. He looked back at Franklin with just enough sanity to keep from lashing out at her. She shook her head then gestured with a hand to step away and let her work on the suspect. Izir closed his eyes, counted silently to five, then stepped away from the table and took up a position near the two-way glass. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cMr. Krotus?\u201d Franklin asked, her tone as gentle as a mother\u2019s when comforting a child after a nightmare. \u201cI\u2019m Detective Dakota Franklin, the co-investigator on this case. I apologize for Detective Izir\u2019s outbursts, but you have to understand that he\u2019s extremely upset.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Franklin slid a manila folder from the edge of the table to the middle. She opened the cover and spun the folder around so George could see the crime scene photographs. She did her best to keep her eyes on the suspect. The glossy 8&#215;10 photos were too disturbing, too inhumane for even the most jaded, desensitized investigators to look at without feeling sick to their stomachs. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cLook at the photos, Mr. Krotus,\u201d she said gently, separating four of them from the stack then spreading them out on the table. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI-I-I-c-c-caaan\u2019t!\u201d George wailed, closing his eyes tightly before turning his head away. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYou can,\u201d Franklin said with the same sweet gentleness. \u201cYour time on Death Row is already predicted to be the shortest since the days of frontier justice. If you didn\u2019t do it, then you don\u2019t want to die for someone else\u2019s crime, do you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cBut I didn\u2019t do th-th-that!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cThen why can we watch you commit this horrible crime and why was our forensic team able to pull enough of your DNA from the victim to have an undeniable match?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI don\u2019t know!\u201d George shrieked. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWatch the fucking video again!\u201d Izir shouted, rushing to the table. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">He turned the laptop around and hit play then went around to stand behind the suspect. Franklin watched her partner, worried he was about to go too far\u2014to the point Krotus\u2019 case might get tossed on a technicality. Izir palmed George\u2019s head with one hand and used his finger and thumb to force the man\u2019s eyes open. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cThat\u2019s you,\u201d Izir growled as a man in the video knocked on the door of an apartment. \u201cDon\u2019t even tell me that\u2019s not you. You\u2019re wearing the same fuckin\u2019 clothes!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">George shook violently, unable to close his eyes or turn his head away from the video. He began to moan when the scene switched to another camera and he watched himself lead an attractive woman to a bed. His moans became howls of pain when Franklin fast-forwarded the video. Izir watched his partner while she watched the suspect\u2019s face. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYou tied her up, beat and raped her, then slit her throat,\u201d Izir said calmly, keeping his eyes locked on his partner so he wouldn\u2019t have to watch the horror show for the tenth time. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">He let go of George\u2019s head when the video stopped. Izir\u2019s years as a detective in the Violent Crimes Division had hardened him to both the grisly aftermath of vicious attacks as well as the protestations of the perpetrators accused of them. His only sympathy for George Krotus stemmed from the fact the man had probably realized just how evil his crime had been and refused to believe he\u2019d done it. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">George Krotus, 34, male white, owner of Krotus Logistics, seemed as unlikely a rapist-murderer as could possibly be. Izir knew that if he hadn\u2019t watched the man commit the crime on high definition security footage, there was no way he would believe he had the correct suspect sweating bullets in the precinct\u2019s interrogation room. The forensic techs assured him and Detective Franklin that the victim had more than enough DNA from the perp to make it a slam dunk case. But something chewed away at the back of his mind. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cListen, George,\u201d Izir said after taking a deep breath. \u201cJust confess to the crime and save the state of Utah a big chunk of taxpayer money. You\u2019re going to get the death penalty no matter what you say, but come on\u2026 we all know you did it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI didn\u2019t,\u201d George croaked after getting his own storm of emotions under control. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYes, George, you did,\u201d Franklin said. \u201cOr do you want to watch the video again?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI didn\u2019t do that! I would never do that!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cThen who did?\u201d Izir asked. He hoped George wouldn\u2019t launch into a fantastical story that would convince a jury he wasn\u2019t mentally fit to stand trial. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI can\u2019t tell you,\u201d George whispered. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWhat?\u201d Izir asked. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI can\u2019t tell you,\u201d George repeated, his eyes nervously roaming back and forth between the two detective\u2019s faces. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cSure you can, Mr. Krotus,\u201d Franklin said as if encouraging an infant to take his first steps. \u201cJust tell us who did it so we can clear your name.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI can\u2019t!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Izir leaned over the table, his nose only inches from George\u2019s. The two stared at each other for ten seconds before the suspect blinked. Izir knew real fear when he saw it, and George Krotus was so full of it he looked ready to burst into a bloody explosion. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI swear to fucking god if you don\u2019t tell me who the man in that video is, if it isn\u2019t you, then I\u2019m going to put my fucking finger in your fucking eye until it bursts,\u201d Izir said in a low, dangerous voice. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cIt\u2026\u201d George said then clamped his mouth shut. His eyes bulged as if someone had pumped his skull full of air. \u201cIt\u2019s J\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">George\u2019s eyes burst, spraying Izir with a mixture of blood, brains, and clear fluids. The scream that erupted from George\u2019s mouth was cut off by a jet of blood that erupted from his throat. The sticky, almost black liquid coated the table, pictures, and the laptop as if someone had thrown a can of paint on them. Izir stumbled back, a shriek of surprise escaping his own throat. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWhat the fuck?\u201d he screamed. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cJesus Christ,\u201d Franklin whispered, her body unable to respond to the commands to move that her brain desperately repeated over and over. \u201cJesus Christ. Jesus Christ Jesus Jesus Jesus fucking Christ.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWe need an ambulance!\u201d Izir shouted into the intercom near the door. He pounded on the two-way glass with both fists, leaving bloody splotches and streaks. \u201cNow, goddammit!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">He looked back at George Krotus. George remained upright, a small trickle of blood leaking from his left eye socket. A bloody burp escaped the suspect\u2019s mouth then his head hit the table with a solid thump. Izir finally broke his own paralysis and grabbed Franklin by the shoulders.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cDakota!\u201d he said forcefully while shaking her. \u201cDetective!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cOh my god,\u201d she said then looked at her partner\u2019s face. \u201cOh my god, Hamad, what just happened?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he admitted then glanced toward the table. \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he repeated again. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">The door flew open and half a dozen uniformed officers rushed in followed by Detective Sergeant Casey and Lt. Hammond. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cAmbulance is on the way,\u201d Sgt. Casey said, his eyes locked to the table. \u201cWhat the fuck happened in here?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI do\u2014\u201d Izir began before Lt. Hammond cut him off.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cDon\u2019t say a word, Detective,\u201d she advised. \u201cDon\u2019t say a word until your reps get here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cLieutenant\u2026\u201d Franklin said. \u201cYou can\u2019t honestly think we\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cShut your goddamn mouth, Detective!\u201d Hammond shouted. \u201cI don\u2019t know what the hell is going on, but you need to just zip it, both of you, until your reps are here.\u201d She looked away from the grisly scene at the table to the two detectives covered in blood. \u201cJust shut up, okay?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-paragraph-type: empty; -qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;\">\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">***<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-paragraph-type: empty; -qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;\">\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cDetective Izir, we\u2019ve reviewed the footage from Interview Room Two,\u201d Detective Pena said to the man across the desk from him. \u201cWhile your interview techniques are\u2026 a bit beyond the department\u2019s standards, I assure you that after going over the initial criminal report and video evidence against George Krotus, I\u2019m sympathetic to your momentary lapse into unprofessionalism.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cFuck you,\u201d Izir growled. \u201cI didn\u2019t kill him.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cCareful, Detective,\u201d James Hightower said, touching Izir on the arm. \u201cRemember where we are.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI don\u2019t give a shit!\u201d Izir exclaimed. \u201cAnd yeah, Krotus fuckin\u2019 murdered that girl after raping her, but it didn\u2019t cause me to make his goddamn head explode!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cCalm down, Detective,\u201d Pena said, holding up a hand. \u201cI\u2019m just saying that it\u2019s probably the most horrific thing I\u2019ve ever had to watch, so I can understand why you went overboard. But I also watched the video of what happened in Two, and I agree, neither you nor Detective Franklin are responsible for what happened to Krotus.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cThen why the hell am I still here?\u201d Izir asked. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cProcedure,\u201d Pena answered. \u201cKrotus\u2019 family is going to have a lot of questions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cFuck them,\u201d Izir growled. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cNo, not \u2018fuck them.\u2019 They\u2019re damn sure going to blame you and Detective Franklin for this, so how about we worry what kind of shitstorm they are going to cause? Tell me again what happened.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI already told you five times! I\u2019m sure Dakota has told you the same exact thing the same amount of times I already have!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Pena sighed. \u201cShe has, and you have as well. I\u2019m not questioning you because I think you\u2019re guilty. I\u2019m questioning you because this shit has the entire department spooked. And now this asshole Reverend Ryerson is posting all over the internet how he used his divine power to punish a sinner.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWho the fuck is Reverend Ryerson?\u201d Izir asked in confusion. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cJesus, Izir, don\u2019t you pay attention to the news?\u201d Hightower asked. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI\u2019m sorry if I\u2019m too busy trying to solve homicides and sexual assaults,\u201d Izir countered. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cReverend Ryerson of The Church of the Holy Ascent,\u201d Pena said. When Izir gave him a blank look, he shook his head. \u201cThe cult leader down near Nephi who has the compound built into the hillside? Ran into trouble with the FBI and the Juab County Sheriff\u2019s Department a year ago?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cMaybe,\u201d Izir said. \u201cWhat the hell does he have to do with this?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cReverend Ryerson seems to know too many details of exactly what happened in Two,\u201d Pena said. \u201cExact details that could only come from him watching the same footage I did\u2014unless you or Detective Franklin called him up and gave him a detailed report of the incident?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI don\u2019t get it,\u201d Izir said, turning his head toward his union rep. \u201cWhat the hell is he talking about? Did someone leak the tape?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cNo,\u201d Hightower said. \u201cBut he\u2019s posting all over social media about it as if he were in the room with you.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cIs he some kind of hacker or something?\u201d Izir asked, still puzzled as to how anyone else could know the details of George Krotus\u2019 eyes exploding. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Pena chuckled. \u201cNo, and while The Church of the Holy Ascent is a modern cult and likely has a hacker or two as a disciple, IT has checked all of the IP addresses coming in and there isn\u2019t a single byte of evidence that the station\u2019s systems were compromised. It would actually be a pretty impressive hack since the internal CCTV cameras are not connected to any computer with a network connection. It\u2019s a true closed loop, the best kind of security. Which leaves us with a leaker.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cAnd you think I or Franklin leaked a copy of the video we\u2019ve seen once and never had access to other than when Internal Affairs showed it to us?\u201d Izir asked. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cNo,\u201d Pena admitted. \u201cWhich makes the mystery even greater. Ryerson claims to have Heavenly Father on his side, and those claims have grown bolder over the last two years. First it was just God\u2019s voice telling him how to build up his flock. Then it was the healing touch. It\u2019s morphed to divine power these days.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cSo\u2026 you believe this Ryerson has godly powers? Enough to somehow scry or hack or whatever to see the footage?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cGood lord, no,\u201d Pena said. Hightower shook his head as well. \u201cThe man is a joke, as is his cult. I can\u2019t believe you haven\u2019t heard about these assholes. He runs around preaching to anyone who will listen and uses the internet as a recruiting tool to scam idiots into joining up. Free love, free legal weed, polygamy, who knows what they\u2019re promised.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cOkay\u2026 I still don\u2019t get it,\u201d Izir said. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cHe\u2019s a doomsday type,\u201d Hightower said. \u201cSays the world is coming to an end, Armageddon, all that good stuff. FBI and Juab County tried to nab him on weapons charges as they\u2019re sure he\u2019s got enough weapons and gear in that mountain complex to equip a small army. They didn\u2019t find shit other than five or six dumbasses wanted on outstanding warrants.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI\u2019m sure that made the Feds happy,\u201d Izir said. He knew the FBI hated to look like inept fools. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cDon\u2019t worry. Ryerson and his cult are likely number one or two on their shit list,\u201d Hightower said with a laugh. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cNo doubt,\u201d Izir said. He looked at Pena. \u201cWhat does this have to do with what actually happened to George Krotus?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m trying to figure out,\u201d Pena said. \u201cI know you and Franklin and every other cop in the world hates Internal Affairs, but I can honestly tell you this is the one time we\u2019re actually on your side and not trying to fuck you.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cSure,\u201d Izir said with a grin. \u201cAnd I\u2019m gonna rush to the bank and take a loan out for that bridge you\u2019re selling.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI\u2019m deadly serious, Detective,\u201d Pena said. \u201cA man\u2019s eyes exploded then he vomited blood like a firehose. Don\u2019t you think that\u2019s a bit strange?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cStrange doesn\u2019t even begin to cover it.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWhat do you think happened?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cLike I said, I made him watch the video, but he just kept going on and on about how it wasn\u2019t him\u2014like he knew for sure it wasn\u2019t him but couldn\u2019t tell us who the real perp was. We decided to humor him just to see if he would talk but he suddenly acted like he couldn\u2019t tell us. When we kept at him\u2014after I threatened to pop one of his eyeballs with my thumb\u2014he just\u2026 I don\u2019t know. One second he was scared to death, the next I was blind from his eyes popping a few inches from my face. Then he just blew an artery or something and puked up all that blood.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cIt\u2019s the same statement he\u2019s given you six times now, Detective Pena,\u201d Hightower said. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI\u2019m aware of that,\u201d Pena said curtly. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWell, it isn\u2019t going to change, so stop asking like you\u2019re going to trip me up,\u201d Izir said. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI\u2019m not trying to trip you up, Detective Izir. I\u2019m trying to figure out just how the hell this happened.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYour guess is as good as mine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>*<\/p>\n<p><b>CHAPTER 2.<\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cSo, I got a call-back from Weber County Sheriff,\u201d Franklin said after sitting down across from her partner. \u201cIt\u2019s a bit interesting, to say the least.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYeah?\u201d Izir asked, looking up from a report he was working on. \u201cDid they solve our case for us?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Franklin chuckled, then her face became serious. \u201cNo, but there\u2019s a definite link between Krotus and Reverend James Wesley Ryerson of the Church of the Holy Ascent.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Izir dropped his pen and focused his attention on her. The trauma of George Krotus\u2019 eyes and carotid artery bursting within seconds of each other hadn\u2019t dissipated yet. In fact, it had only grown more traumatic over the last three days, culminating in Izir being shaken awake by his wife after he sat bolt upright in bed and began screaming as if his leg had been caught in an industrial gear wheel. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cDo tell,\u201d Izir said, trying his best to once more figure out how the two were connected. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cKrotus Logistics is the company who initially designed and built the Church\u2019s website,\u201d Franklin said. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cOkay\u2026\u201d Izir said, his brow furrowing in puzzlement. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cThe Church and Krotus had some sort of falling out,\u201d Franklin continued. \u201cThree civil lawsuits were filed. One by the Church, one by Ryerson, and a countersuit by George Krotus himself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cNot the company?\u201d Izir asked. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cNope,\u201d Franklin said, leaning back in her chair. \u201cIt was personal, according to David over at the courthouse. He gave me a the gist of it and I\u2019m waiting on the paperwork to arrive. Short story is that Ryerson and the Church first refused to pay for the work done, then when Krotus filed a lien, Ryerson himself visited Krotus\u2019 home in Ogden. Apparently Ryerson convinced Krotus\u2019 wife, DeAnna, to pack a bag for her and their two children and ride back to Nephi with him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWhat?\u201d Izir asked in surprise. The story hadn\u2019t gone anywhere near where he had guessed it would. \u201cShe just up and left with the kids, climbed in the cult van or whatever, and took off with him? Did Ryerson drug her? Threaten her?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cNot that anyone could tell. Krotus has a security camera on the porch, and while it doesn\u2019t record sound, the footage of the event is pretty clear that Ryerson simply talked to her after she came to the door to see what her husband was arguing about. I\u2019ll get the footage along with the court filings, but David spoke to one of the responding officers who arrived just after Ryerson, DeAnna, and the kids drove off. Deputy says that Krotus kept going on and on about how Ryerson \u2018bewitched\u2019 his wife with words, maybe with his eyes.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cChrist,\u201d Izir grumbled. \u201cSo a nutty cult leader somehow bamboozled a web design geek into thinking he had magic powers? Or was infused with the power of Jesus?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Franklin shrugged and frowned. \u201cLike I said, I\u2019ll have all the details soon, but David said it was like watching a car wreck into a fuel tanker, then a tank rolled over the flaming wreckage only to be annihilated by a 747 slamming into the whole mess.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI thought you said there wasn\u2019t any violence? That Cult-y used sorcery on Krotus\u2019 wife?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYeah, I just mean that the level of hatred between the two parties went from World War Three to World War Four, then Five, then went off the charts. I mean, you can imagine how you\u2019d feel if a smug-sounding, ultra-righteous asshole stood on your porch and somehow convinced Myra to pack a bag and run off to his compound.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cFucker would have been driving to the nearest hospital with a dozen bullets in him,\u201d Izir growled. \u201cSo how does this tie into what happened in Two?\u201d Izir shuddered at the sudden mental replay of events in Interview Room Two. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cThat\u2019s still a mystery,\u201d Franklin said with a sigh. \u201cDavid only gave me the quick run-down from dealing with the court filings, and from running into the Weber County deputy who was on-scene when the deputy was in the courthouse for another case.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cThink Sarge will give us the okay to head down to Nephi and talk to Ryerson?\u201d Izir asked. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Franklin answered. \u201cEveryone is pretty freaked out by what happened. Whispers about how you and I murdered Krotus have morphed into a dozen different versions of events, and Sergeant Casey kept backing away from me when I tried to talk to him yesterday, like I was gonna burst his eyes with my mind.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Izir barked laughter, but inside he burned with anger. He had noticed the same treatment from his colleagues over the last day or so. The only ones who didn\u2019t seem to think he and Franklin were spooky or vengeful were the shitheads from Internal Affairs, which made the situation even worse since no one had a single ounce of love for IA. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWhat about Krotus\u2019 neighbors?\u201d Izir asked. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI doubt we\u2019ll get anything new or interesting from them,\u201d Franklin answered. \u201cMost didn\u2019t see what happened, and I imagine any other security footage from neighbors would show the same thing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cSo\u2026 how the fuck did Ryerson entice the wife and kids to leave with him? Is there some kind of connection there, like they went to school together, dated once, anything like that?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cDoesn\u2019t seem to be a single connection other than the Church of the Holy Ascent hired Krotus Logistics to build their website, then refused to pay, which led to a lien, which led to the encounter on Krotus\u2019 porch, which then led to three lawsuits.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWhich then led to Krotus murdering an innocent college student in the most horrific way possible,\u201d Izir said, scratching his neck. \u201cWhich doesn\u2019t make any sense at all. Unless, and this is waaaay out in left field, unless Ryerson told George Krotus he could have his wife and kids back if he bound, raped, then murdered Alicia Donnington.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cThat\u2019s not even in left field,\u201d Franklin said. \u201cThen again, we\u2019ve seen some shit in our time, right?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Izir nodded, thinking of a few cases that were bizarre but not actually surprising for the fact that love or lust had been involved. Both detectives knew the heart was a fragile thing, and when broken, fueled the most extreme emotions, including rage and jealousy. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cBut you don\u2019t buy it,\u201d Izir said, not framing it as a question. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cMaybe. Mostly no, Krotus seemed like a man who avoided violence his entire life, choosing to bury himself in computer code instead of interacting with the seedier side of the Wasatch Valley. It doesn\u2019t mean he wasn\u2019t capable of some truly horrific shit, but I didn\u2019t get that vibe at all. The man was scared. More scared than anyone I\u2019ve ever encountered before, especially at the end\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cAgreed,\u201d Izir said, shuddering once again as Krotus\u2019 eyes burst inches from his within his mind. He shook his head. \u201cWhat about Alicia Donnington? Is there a connection with Krotus?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cFremont and Gonzales aren\u2019t supposed to say shit to us,\u201d Franklin said. \u201cGonzales pretends he\u2019s not freaked out by me, by us, by what happened, but it\u2019s plain as day on his face. Alexis\u2026 She and I went to Arizona State together, and though she\u2019s a bit standoffish suddenly, she, like Gonzales, knows this should be our case. They\u2019ve checked Alicia\u2019s social media accounts, emails, and interviewed her dorm mates as well as her family. Nothing with Krotus, none have ever heard of him or his company, but interestingly enough, it appears Alicia joined up with the Church of the Holy Ascent last year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cInteresting,\u201d Izir said, more to himself than to his partner. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cShe skipped a semester at U of U and lived at a boarding house in Nephi, but came back to Salt Lake within two months. It\u2019s doubtful anyone from the Church or the residents of Nephi will tell us anything, and according to her friends at college, she never talked about what happened. Never posted anything negative about the Church on her social media timelines either. The only hint she gave was a Facebook post saying she was glad to be home and was ready to begin the next semester.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cHer family?\u201d Izir asked. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cFremont says they didn\u2019t even know she\u2019d skipped a semester until they were interviewed. Looks like Alicia blocked them from either seeing her social media at all, or specifically blocked the post about being glad to be home.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cJesus, it\u2019s like a spiral that never leads to the center, it just keeps spiraling.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Franklin opened her mouth to agree but was interrupted by the phone on her desk. She answered it, gave two short replies, then hung up. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cLooks like the verdict is in,\u201d she said, standing up. \u201cCome on, the executioner awaits.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-paragraph-type: empty; -qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;\">\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">*<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-paragraph-type: empty; -qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;\">\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cHave a seat, detectives,\u201d Lieutenant Hammond said, her voice devoid of any hints as to what she would say next. \u201cYou know Detective Pena and Detective Anderson from IA,\u201d she said, gesturing toward the two IA officers seated near the end of the conference table. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Izir and Franklin nodded to them after taking their chairs at the opposite end of the table. Izir was thankful that Sergeant Casey was present and had given him a stealthy wink, but he was apprehensive that Captain Childress seemed to be giving him a stare that promised a slow, agonizing death. He felt a light squeeze on his elbow from his partner that was supposed to reassure him that their punishment would be less severe than what either of them had feared would be handed down. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cDetectives Franklin, Izir,\u201d Pena said after standing up. \u201cYou can both wipe those looks off your faces.\u201d He grinned as both detectives blinked a few times in surprise. \u201cThe Department is clearing you of all suspicion concerning George Krotus\u2019 death.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Izir closed his eyes and expelled the breath he\u2019d been holding. Franklin squeezed his elbow again but didn\u2019t let go. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cDetectives,\u201d Captain Childress said after Pena sat down, \u201cI don\u2019t know any more than you or anyone else who watched the video of what happened in Two. While I can\u2019t say I approve of Detective Izir\u2019s handling of Mr. Krotus during the interview, I am more than satisfied that neither of you caused his death.\u201d He frowned at Izir first, then Franklin. \u201cUnless either of you wish to take this moment to admit that one or both of you are wizards or have been possessed by demons?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cSir\u2026\u201d Franklin started, but was cut off by a wave of the captain\u2019s hand. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cIt was supposed to be a joke,\u201d Childress said. \u201cA joke in poor taste, I suppose, but dammit, that seems to be the only other explanation.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cMaybe it\u2019s Reverend Ryerson who is a wizard,\u201d Izir said without a hint of humor. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cOr a demon,\u201d Pena added, surprising everyone. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYou\u2019re not buying into this shit too, are you?\u201d Lt. Hammond asked. Her expression explicitly spelled out her feelings on the rumors that had been spreading like wildfire throughout the Violent Crimes Division over the last three days, and had likely found their way into every corner of the Salt Lake City Police Department. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cNo, ma\u2019am,\u201d Pena said respectfully. \u201cI\u2019m as baffled as everyone else. But at this point, there\u2019s nothing else to go on.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cShould we put out an APB for a wizard-demon?\u201d Hammond asked.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">The room was silent for an uncomfortable length of time as the others tried to determine if Lt. Hammond was joking or not. She finally cracked a small smile, but it was immediately replaced by her signature frown. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cAt this moment, no,\u201d Pena answered, just in case she had been serious. \u201cBut I do recommend that Detectives Franklin and Izir work this case with Detectives Fremont and Gonzales. They\u2019re intimately familiar with the Krotus aspect, and Fremont and Gonzales have been working the Ryerson angle, along with interviewing the victim\u2019s family and classmates.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cDo we really need four VCD detectives working on this?\u201d Sergeant Casey asked, unhappy that it might put a severe strain on the rest of his personnel\u2019s caseload. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cHonestly,\u201d Pena said with a shrug, \u201cI don\u2019t know. I <\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: italic;\">think<\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"> it\u2019s a good idea. Something doesn\u2019t sit right with me, and I can tell by looking at Hamid and Dakota that it most definitely doesn\u2019t sit right with them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cMe either, Detective Pena, but what you\u2019re asking means I\u2019ll be out four detectives, and we\u2019re already backed up as it is.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI understand, Sergeant,\u201d Pena answered. \u201cAt least for a few days, let them see what they can find out. None of us believe in magic or that Jesus has imbued Ryerson with supernatural abilities, which means there has to be a mundane explanation for what happened in Two. More importantly, the Donnington family needs some kind of closure, if possible, as to why their daughter was murdered in such a fashion. Krotus, like any man, was capable of it, but I\u2019m with Izir and Franklin that he was more scared of naming the hand pushing the pieces around the board than he was of facing a jury and an execution date.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cSpecial Agent Myers has offered to let Fremont and Gonzales see what they\u2019ve picked up on wiretaps and surveillance,\u201d Captain Childress said. \u201cThe FBI have been after Ryerson for a couple of years, and their hackles are raised even further because of what happened to Donnington and Krotus. He\u2019d especially like to interview the two of you,\u201d he said, nodding toward Izir and Franklin. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cAnother interrogation?\u201d Franklin asked. \u201cPena and his crew already wrung us out like a wet rag.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWell then, the FBI wants to get the last few drops from you,\u201d Childress countered. \u201cYou\u2019ll do it, both because I told you you\u2019ll do it, and because playing nice with the Feds will help Fremont and Gonzales\u2014and thereby yourselves.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYes, sir,\u201d Izir said. Unlike a lot of other cops, he had nothing against the Feds, having taken the interview to become one himself before being hired by the Salt Lake City Police Department. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cKeep us informed,\u201d Lt. Hammond commanded. \u201cEveryone is spooked. Whatever happened in Two and whatever Krotus did to Alicia Donnington is only half of it now. Reverend Ryerson has ramped up his rhetoric and threats, especially since he believes he\u2019s untouchable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cIs he?\u201d Franklin asked. \u201cHamad and I want to go down to Nephi and see if we can get anyone to talk.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cMake a wide berth around Ryerson for now,\u201d Captain Childress ordered. \u201cThe Feds are so far up Ryerson\u2019s ass that they can smell what he\u2019s about to eat. They\u2019ll not take kindly to a couple of SLCPD hicks stomping around inside their territory. Stick to the Valley and work on Krotus, Donnington, and anything else that\u2019s local. Fremont and Gonzales will work the Nephi parts while dealing with the FBI.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cApologies, sir,\u201d Franklin said defensively, \u201cbut what the fuck?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cStuff it,\u201d Sergeant Casey said, the warning in his voice a clear message to Detective Franklin to drop it. \u201cDo as you\u2019re told. But since you\u2019ll keep that look on your face until I give you a better reason than \u2018because we told you so,\u2019 the reason we want to keep you as far away from Ryerson and his cult as possible is because you\u2019re likely a target for them if you go poking your nose around down there.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cA target?\u201d Franklin asked. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cRyerson knows too much about what happened to Krotus, which means he knows exactly who you two are. Whatever feud happened between Krotus and Ryerson caused a girl\u2019s murder. And even though none of us believe in supernatural shit, it\u2019s too risky to kick a hornet\u2019s nest at this moment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYou don\u2019t seriously believe he\u2019ll try to use some voodoo shit on us and make our eyes explode, do you?\u201d Izir asked, doing his best to keep both disbelief and rising annoyance out of his tone. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI don\u2019t know what he or his cult will do,\u201d Casey replied. \u201cNeither do you. They\u2019ve got over a thousand faithful, according to the FBI. And that\u2019s just down in Juab County. They could have ten thousand more acolytes on the internet, and it\u2019s not a stretch to think Ryerson or his goons wouldn\u2019t dox you to them anonymously.\u201d He held up his hand to forestall Izir\u2019s protest. \u201cYeah, you two aren\u2019t afraid, and all of that. But cult crazies are unpredictable, and you both know it. There\u2019s no direct threat against either of you, or anyone within the department that we know of, but let\u2019s not give them a reason to put a bullseye on any of us. We\u2019re already in the middle of a shitstorm over Alicia Donnington and George Krotus. Too many Utahns believe you two killed him in revenge, and thanks to the internet, too many Americans believe it. It\u2019s not like we\u2019re going to release the video of what actually happened, and we\u2019ve already filed a writ with Judge Stevens to block any Freedom of Information bullshit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cOf which the ACLU has already filed two motions,\u201d Lt. Hammond grunted. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 36px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWe\u2019re in the middle of a shit sandwich, Detectives,\u201d Captain Childress said, standing up to let everyone know the meeting was over. \u201cTry your best to keep it from spilling out of the bread, and we\u2019ll do our best to keep any of us from having to eat it.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p>*<\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; page-break-before: always; margin: 0px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">CHAPTER 3.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-paragraph-type: empty; -qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;\">\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Izir and Franklin stood outside of the modest middle class family home on Northmont Way, in the Greater Avenues section of northeast Salt Lake City. The dozen police cruisers and three unmarked sedans stood out in the fading sunlight, along with two firetrucks, an ambulance, the Coroner\u2019s van, and two white utility vans that the forensic teams drove. He glanced down the street to take in the growing number of residents who had come outside to see what the commotion was. As far as he could tell, all of the adults were Mormons, based on their facial features. Dakota had given him hell many times over the years they had worked together when it came to his ability to guess whether or not someone was LDS simply by looking at their faces. More often than not he had been right, which annoyed his partner greatly, though both had laughed about it enough that he now gave her his predictions just to aggravate her. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cSuper Momo neighborhood,\u201d he said quietly after turning back to his partner. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cGod, Hamad,\u201d she said with an exasperated sigh. \u201cNot now.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI\u2019m just saying,\u201d he answered without a hint of humor. \u201cGreater Avenues, nice houses, tons of kids, names like Young, Smith, Hatch, Heider\u2014\u201d he pointed to the custom-crafted mailbox in front of the victim\u2019s house, \u201c\u2014and the name of our victim: Enos Isaiah Mecham.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cOkay, so what?\u201d she asked as they were handed coverings for their shoes. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cPretty nice neighborhood is all I\u2019m saying. Nice, quiet, friendly, Mormon neighborhood in a nice part of town. How many murders have we worked out here?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cNone that I know of,\u201d she answered. \u201cMaybe two that I can remember in the department over the last decade or two?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cThe victim owns two used car dealerships in the city, wife, five kids, faithful church attendee\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cOkay, so the victim is a good Mormon who lives in a nice house and has the typical million kids,\u201d she said, taking the lead toward the front door. \u201cWhat\u2019s your point? Good Mormons get murdered once in a while. Maybe not in this area, but it happens. Same as jack Mormons, Catholics, atheists, and even Muslims like yourself.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cFuck you,\u201d he grumbled, though couldn\u2019t help the grin that found its way to his lips. \u201cI\u2019m more atheist than you.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cAllah is going to punish you for that,\u201d she said, then ducked under the police tape before he could do more than growl at her. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Both immediately came to a halt just inside the doorway. The white ceramic tile foyer was covered in blood, along with two wide streaks on the wall to their right. Franklin shook her head then nodded toward the kitchen, where they could see more blood covering the countertops, the refridgerator, and the small section of the gas range that wasn\u2019t blocked from their view by a wall. They tiptoed their way forward, stopping just outside the kitchen. Izir felt the contents of his stomach shift. The kitchen had even more blood than the hallway, enough that he wondered if multiple victims had been murdered. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cCan a body have that much blood in it?\u201d Franklin asked, as if reading his mind. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWas just thinking the same thing,\u201d he whispered, unsure of why he felt the need to keep his voice low. \u201cDanny said there was only one victim, but this looks like an entire family was whacked.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cMrs. Mecham and the kids are up in Idaho Falls for the weekend,\u201d Detective Gonzales said from the living room, having overheard their conversation. \u201cWe\u2019ve got ISP at her mother\u2019s house right now, and everyone but Enos is accounted for.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cAlibi?\u201d Izir asked, already knowing the answer. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cThey\u2019ve been there since Thursday night,\u201d Detective Fremont said, appearing from a bedroom behind her partner. \u201cISP troopers have confirmed it from the wife\u2019s phone and the eldest teenage daughter\u2019s. Kid has been posting on Facebook and Instagram since they left the house Thursday about how bored she is, how ugly eastern Idaho is, typical teenage whining. But it all checks out.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cMore interesting than that,\u201d Gonzales said, \u201cis that there\u2019s a camera in the bedroom that caught the final act of this tragedy.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cReally?\u201d Franklin asked. She knew most Mormons had security cameras that pointed at their porches and driveways, but almost none wanted them inside their houses. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cFunny thing, that,\u201d Fremont said with a wry grin. \u201cThere was one in the living room as well.\u201d She pointed to the evidence bag on the floor near her partner\u2019s feet. \u201cWhoever did this, they used the wireless cam to follow the victim room to room, then shot the actual\u2026 murder from two different angles in the bedroom.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWhy the pause?\u201d Izir asked, unable to pry his gaze from what had to be gallons of blood splashed about the floors and walls. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYou two will appreciate the answer to that more than anyone else,\u201d Gonzales said with a grin. He, along with Fremont, had warmed back up to Izir and Franklin over the last two weeks as they worked together to unravel the mystery of George Krotus, Alicia Donnington, and the Church of the Holy Ascent. \u201cOr maybe not.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cDon\u2019t be cryptic, goddammit,\u201d Izir said. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cIt\u2019s like George Krotus: Part Two,\u201d Fremont said, her face dark with a mix of horror, fear, and anger. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cNo fucking way,\u201d Franklin said. \u201cMecham\u2019s eyes burst then he ran around spraying blood from his mouth everywhere?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cNot quite exactly like Krotus, but also much, much worse. We\u2019ll give you from now until we get back to the station to prepare yourselves for what you\u2019re going to see on the camera\u2019s memory card.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cLet me guess,\u201d Izir said. \u201cThe perp didn\u2019t hide his or her face at all, right? Just like Krotus? As if they wanted us to see exactly who did the killing?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cHe even smiled for the camera before holding up his driver\u2019s license,\u201d Gonzales said, as if he couldn\u2019t believe it either. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYou\u2019re fucking kidding, right?\u201d Franklin asked. \u201cRight?\u201d she asked again when neither detective answered. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cCome see the results,\u201d Fremont said. \u201cCareful, step over there and come along the wall unless you want blood to soak right through those slips.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Izir and Franklin carefully picked their way across the carpet, stepping along the wall to keep the covers on their shoes from becoming bloody rags. Franklin peeked around the corner when she arrived at the bedroom door, then stepped back so quickly that Izir had to grab her arm with both hands before she fell into the mostly dried pool of blood soaking the living room carpet. He could feel her entire body shaking, as if she were freezing in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWhat?\u201d he asked, but she couldn\u2019t answer, could only shake her head and blink her eyes quickly to stem the flow of tears that threatened to burst forth. \u201cWhat the hell, Dakota? What\u2019s in there?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">She refused to answer, instead pointing toward the bedroom then stepping around him to let him take the lead. Izir looked back to Fremont and Gonzales, who stood still watching them, but neither said a word, their expressions as blank as any veteran homicide detective could muster. He grunted and stepped to the doorway, slowly leaning his head in just in case whatever had shocked his partner would give him a horror movie jump-scare. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Izir\u2019s stomach almost let loose this time. His left eye twitched furiously as he took in the scene. After a few seconds, he remembered to breathe, but once again he was unable to look away from the absolute carnage that had once been Enos Isaiah Mecham. In the middle of the queen-sized bed lay Enos Mecham, feet near the headboard pillows, headless torso near the opposite end. Izir squinted to get a better look without stepping into the house of horrors. Mecham\u2019s head hadn\u2019t been cleanly severed. To Izir, it looked as if someone had stuffed a grenade in Mecham\u2019s mouth and pulled the pin. The jagged edges of neck skin contrasted the white bones of Mecham\u2019s spine. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Izir stepped back into the living room, not caring if he stepped through an entire lake of blood to get away from the shocking brutality of Enos Mecham\u2019s murder. Franklin caught him, repaying the favor from a few seconds earlier. The urge both of them felt to hug each other, to hold each other for as long as it took to rid their minds of the terrible scene was strong, but neither wanted to be the butt of even more jokes and rumors, nor did they want to listen to their colleagues catcall them with joking insults for the next few months for being weak and squeamish. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cIt\u2019s all on camera?\u201d Izir asked after regaining control of his sanity, his ability to think clearly. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cUnfortunately, yes,\u201d Gonzales said softly. He and Fremont had suffered their own moment of insanity after peeking into the bedroom, then again after checking the memory card on one of the portable, wireless cameras. \u201cHigh definition, 4k resolution.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cJesus Christ,\u201d Izir said, feeling faint once more. \u201cI assume there\u2019s an APB for the perp?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cCounty deputies picked him up at home just as you two arrived,\u201d Gonzales said. \u201cWasn\u2019t too hard, since the dumbass held his ID up to the camera.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cAnyone we know?\u201d Franklin asked. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cGavin Long, 1288 West 900 South,\u201d Gonzales answered. \u201cMale, white, age twenty-eight.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cLDS?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cToss-up, but honestly, I don\u2019t think that\u2019s the important factor here.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cTrue,\u201d Izir said. \u201cBut it might be. It\u2019s better than thinking the guy is a wizard-demon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWhy can\u2019t it just be homicidal rage over wife-swapping or infidelity or embezzlement?\u201d Franklin asked, her face finally regaining its color. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWe\u2019ll hopefully find out soon enough,\u201d Fremont said. \u201cGonzo and I want you two to do the interview.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWhy us?\u201d Izir asked. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cJust in case Mr. Gavin Long is a wizard-demon,\u201d Gonzales said with a smile, but Izir sensed a nervousness that his colleague tried to hide. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-paragraph-type: empty; -qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;\">\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">*<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-paragraph-type: empty; -qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;\">\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cGavin David Long,\u201d Izir said to the young man sitting across from him. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYes,\u201d Gavin said, glancing nervously from Izir to Franklin. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cAge twenty-eight? 1288 West 900 South, Salt Lake City?\u201d Franklin asked. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYes, ma\u2019am.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cGavin, tell me what happened today.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Gavin asked, visibly trembling in his seat. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYou know what we mean, Gavin,\u201d Izir said, deciding to hold his rage in check this time in hopes of avoiding a repeat of George Krotus.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI\u2014I\u2026 I was at work until four, then I went home. You can check with Mr. Sanders at the site. We was putting drywall up in the new strip mall at East 4500 and State. Across from the tire shop, next to the E-Z Pawn.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cSure,\u201d Izir said, as if the two were old friends catching up. \u201cThen what happened?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYou keep asking \u2018what happened\u2019 as if aliens or government agents got me,\u201d Gavin said nervously. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cDid aliens or government agents swoop in and scoop you up?\u201d Izir asked. Gavin shook his head. \u201cOkay, then what did you do after getting home from work?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cNothing! I cracked a beer and played some Call of Duty on the Xbox.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cAre you sure about that, Gavin?\u201d Franklin asked. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYou mean did I get drunk and forget what I did after coming home?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cGavin, what were you doing up in Greater Avenues?\u201d she asked, ignoring his question. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cGreater what? I wasn\u2019t nowhere near those Momo snobs. I told you, I was playing Call of Duty, having a beer.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cGavin, just stop, okay?\u201d Izir said, failing to keep the anger out of his voice. \u201cWe know you were up on Northmont Way at 6:30 P.M.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cWhat? Bullshit! I was home!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cDon\u2019t fucking lie to me!\u201d Izir thundered, making the young man nearly jump out of his chair. \u201cWe have you on video at Enos Mecham\u2019s house on Northmont Way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cNo\u2026\u201d Gavin said, his voice trailing off. His face was a mask of confusion and terror, as if he had suddenly remembered the unspeakable violence he had committed. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYes!\u201d Izir yelled. \u201cWould you like to see it? See what you did?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI didn\u2019t do nothing,\u201d Gavin said in a small, distant voice. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYou know you did, Gavin,\u201d Franklin said, nodding to her partner to let her take the lead for a moment. \u201cBut let\u2019s go ahead and refresh your memory, okay?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI don\u2019t think I want to,\u201d Gavin said, his voice sounding as if it came from the bottom of a deep well. \u201cI think I need a lawyer.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cYou\u2019re going to need one that specializes in death penalty cases,\u201d Franklin said gently. \u201cBut you already know this, don\u2019t you?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cI want a lawyer!\u201d Gavin shouted. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cSure, we\u2019ll get one headed this way,\u201d Izir said. \u201cBut first, you\u2019re going to watch yourself in action. If you still think a lawyer will be of any help after that, then we\u2019ll let you stew in this room all by yourself until he or she gets here.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Gavin let out a strangled moan when Franklin turned the laptop toward him and clicked the Play button. The young man\u2019s eyes bulged with horror as he watched himself enter Mecham\u2019s house without knocking, turn the wireless camera he had been carrying toward the living room, then enter the victim\u2019s bedroom with the second camera in hand. Neither detective wanted to watch the video again, having suffered through three viewings of it already. Gavin looked like he might not make it through an initial screening based on how ashen his skin had become. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">He let out a pained wail as he watched himself yank Enos Mecham from the bed then sliced Mecham\u2019s nose off with a razor knife. Mecham\u2019s ears were next, followed by dozens of cuts as Gavin chased him through the living room and kitchen. Blood spurted from a dozen wounds as Mecham ran toward the front door. The forensic techs were as confused as the detectives had been as to how Gavin had made Mecham\u2019s blood erupt like a volcano blowing its top. Gavin nearly fell from his chair when Mecham slipped in a pool of blood near the front door. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">The spray of blood from Mecham\u2019s forehead after slamming into a small table in the hallway was straight out of a low budget horror movie. When video Gavin reached down and yanked his victim from the floor as effortlessly as picking up a stuffed animal, both detectives watched in fascination as the Gavin in the chair across from them mimicked the motion with his own hand. Gavin realized what he was doing and began to cry. Izir banged his palm on the table and pointed to the laptop to make sure Gavin continued to watch himself on the screen. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cNo\u2026 NO!\u201d Gavin screamed when the video of him shifted back to the bedroom and he arranged a barely conscious Enos Mecham on the bed. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">He watched himself lean down and speak to Mecham, then step back and clap his hands together once. The instant his palms connected, Mecham\u2019s head exploded into a million shards of blood, bone, and brains. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cNooooooo!\u201d he screamed. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">He shoved the laptop off the table, then tried to jam his fingers into his eyes. Izir had been watching closely, and caught the young man\u2019s hands before they could do more than scratch one of his cheeks. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cNo! No! Fuck you!\u201d he screamed as he struggled to break free of the detective\u2019s grip. \u201cFuck you! You sinner! You fucking chud! You\u2019ll pay! Gafalta will\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">His words were interrupted by a deep growl that came from nowhere and everywhere at once. Izir could feel himself being overpowered as Gavin tried to force his own hands toward his neck. Franklin had already rounded the table and pulled on the man\u2019s arms, but she too felt as if she were wrestling a giant alligator. Neither looked back when the door opened behind them, Gonzales and Fremont rushing in to help their colleagues. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u201cBlaaaasphemmmmy!\u201d screeched the crazed man now being held by the four detectives. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">A soft pop was followed by the four detectives being drenched in hot, sticky fluids. Gavin Long instantly went limp, his now-headless body quivering as his heart continued to pump blood in gouting jets from its neck. All four detectives let go at once and stumbled backward. Fremont was caught from behind by Sergeant Casey, who had rushed into the room to try and help, while the other three smashed back-first into the walls then slipped in the pooling blood, their bodies crashing to the floor. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 18px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">Interview Room 3 became total bedlam as six more officers crammed themselves into the small space to try and help their fellow detectives. Within ten seconds, Fremont, Gonzales, Izir, and Franklin were in the hallway, voices shouting at them, asking if they were hurt, did they need medical attention? The four detectives sat against the walls, shivering, the shock of the sudden, unexpected explosion of Gavin Long\u2019s head forever seared into their minds. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CHAPTER 1. \u201cListen, asshole,\u201d Detective Izir growled to the frightened man on the other side of the interrogation room table. \u201cI don\u2019t know what the fuck is wrong with your brain, but you better jumpstart it quick because you\u2019re completely &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.angrygames.com\/?p=1329\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.angrygames.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1329"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.angrygames.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.angrygames.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.angrygames.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.angrygames.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1329"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.angrygames.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1329\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1343,"href":"https:\/\/www.angrygames.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1329\/revisions\/1343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.angrygames.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1329"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.angrygames.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1329"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.angrygames.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1329"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}