Hell's Detective: Murder

by N. J. Bamford

  “Come on, Jenne. You’re part demon, for crying out loud! Where’s the ‘go and do bad things’ that demons tell people to do? Plus, you were a cop before. I’m sure the other cops owe you a few favors.”

  “Wrong type of demon there, boy. And that excuse will get you nowhere. Don’t you have homework to do?”

  “There’s no homework this weekend. And even if there was, I would’ve finish it before all of this. Anyway, what happened after we left?”

  “We took care of business with the girl,” Jenne sighs, exhausted, “and Gary’s been sent to Hell for punishment. We finished off a powerful Damned and made certain that there were no more surprises left behind before parting ways. I’ve extracted so much Ash that it’s gonna take Drekin and I a few days before we’re ready to go at it again.”

  “Is that why I haven’t see Ellie since? She’s also tired?”

  “Both she and Raiden had to remove Ash from every person at the hospital. Contrary to popular belief, Hell Watchers are skilled in spying, subduing, and assassinating their targets. They can’t hold out in combat for long periods of time. I’m betting that we won’t be seeing Ellisaüch for the next several days.”

  “What about the girl with the gun,” John asks suddenly, remembering how Jenne had skipped over that detail, “Did she get arrested?”

  “Nah. She was under the influence of the Ash, so Lilia got rid of it from her and erased both her memory and the memories of those that were there. The plus side is that the girls that had tormented her will have a bad feeling come up every time they think about harassing her or anyone else ever again.”

  “How will that stop them?”

  “The bad feeling is immense guilt hitting them all at once. It’ll make them feel so sick that they will throw up.”

  “If I did not know you were part demon, I would say you give cops a bad name for bending the law like that.”

  “One: I’m not a cop anymore. Two: the girl is not my responsibility. If someone wants to report her, it should be Lilia. She was the one to curse the girls and remove their memories and did the memory tampering. Three: do not stereotype me. Just because I’m part demon doesn’t mean I’m evil. If I were, you would be streaking down to your friend’s house for clothes and I would be getting a phone call from the police that I would be ignoring for a week.”

  “Geeze,” John sighs after a minute of silence, trying to get that image Jenne painted out of his head, “I forgot how much of a bitch you are when you’re tired. Haven’t you had any sleep last night?”

  “No,” Jenne rubs her eyes, “The stupid Damned had to choose a place as large as Jamerson General Hospital to set up base that took almost all night to clean up. I only got back an hour ago.”

  “Than why not go back to bed? You’ll end up losing more clientele with your grumpy attitude right now, and you don’t work on weekends, so you have plenty of time.”

  “If only I was so lucky. I have paperwork to finish, condolences to make, and errands to run. A nap is going to have to wait.”

  “Couldn’t it wait until tomorrow? It won't do you any good if you collapse from exhaustion somewhere.”

  “I’m part demon, remember? I’m a lot tougher than I look. I’ll be fine. Besides, I know you’ll make certain that no one will take advantage of me.”

  “Gee, thanks. I feel so loved.”

  “Do you want breakfast, or not?”

  “Are we going out, because we don’t have any food right now.”

  * * * *

  Raiden sits outside of a cafe, drinking coffee while watching the people walking by. It’s his day off, a rare day for someone that practically is married to his job. At one time, he had been threatened to be put on a month’s vacation for working nonstop on a case that lasted two weeks long before the criminal was caught. Despite being exhausted and hearing nonexistent noises, he didn’t want to stop until the case was solved.

  This time, however, he is enjoying his day off to the fullest. Both he and Ellisaüch had spent several hours pulling Ash from the hospital staff and patients that the Carrier had infected, Jenne and Lilia too exhausted from their fight to assist. Luckily, none of them went through sinfication and their souls, although damaged, remain intact. No one remembers what they were doing prior to the Carrier’s call, and they went back to their daily routines like nothing had happened. Even Officer Abraham didn’t remember anything but talking to Ann Utgama before he passed out. One less person to try and come up with a story for, as Officer Abraham shook off any lingering pieces of memory as a dream and that he passed out due to exhaustion before moving on to investigating the other suspects. A waste of time, as none of the suspects prove to fit the description of the mastermind perpetrator, not that it matters anymore. The medical students caught in murdering or attempting to murder single child families are being prosecuted today and are awaiting trial. They had admitted to their crimes, and no more can be done for them.

  Raiden sighs before taking a sip of his coffee. So many young adults. So much potential. Gone. Years of studying and tuition payments made. Worthless. Even if some of the students are found innocent, their crimes will be on their permanent records. They would be fortunate if they will obtain decent jobs. There aren’t many employment opportunities for those with a criminal record, especially with murder charges involved, regardless if they were found innocent or guilty.

  He places his cup down and notices how quiet his surroundings have become. Opening his eyes, he looks around calmly to find that the cars in the streets have stopped. The people on the sidewalks have also stopped, locked in position like statues. Even the birds and insects have stopped in mid flight, but aren’t falling to the ground. All but him has been frozen in time.

  “Good afternoon, Raiden.”

  Raiden turns back to see a young woman sitting in the seat opposite of him that had been originally empty a minute ago. Her skin is pale like snow and shines in the sunlight, her hair as white as sugar. The simple white summer dress she is wearing fit her curves in the right places, her delicate fingers curled around the handle of a white and gold trimmed teacup. She lifts the tea cup and takes a sip, at ease with their surroundings.

  “Good day to you too,” Raiden greets with a smile, “I’m surprised to have a visit from you around this time of the day.”

  “It seems to be a good time for a visit,” the woman replies as she sets her teacup down, “You work ceaselessly until either you fall from exhaustion or your superiors order you to stop and rest. It is a habit that makes you both endearing to all and one to worry for.”

  “So I’ve been told,” Raiden comments and takes a sip of his coffee, “The Carrier was very clever and kept us guessing where or who it was until Jenne figures it out. I would not have figure it out until it was too late and the Carrier was gone.”

  “The Damned are the closest to demon kind due to their sinful nature. A youngling like Jenne can find them by sensing their sins much easier than we can. However, demons are not so keen as to aid us for the greater good. Your Jenne, for example. She did not intervene and help until one of her own was attacked. She can't be one to rely upon.”

  “Jenne is... an unique Half-Breed demon. Her case was missed by-”

  “Not everyone can be saved from their fate, no matter how cruel they can be. There is a plan for every mortal born in the world, and they can either follow that plan or deter from it. Jenne has made her choice and she is determined to stay upon the path she has chosen.”

  “All can be saved, no matter how far they fall.”

  “If they wished to be saved.”

  Raiden opens his mouth, but the words he wants to say die upon his tongue. She is right. One cannot be saved from damnation if one does not wish it. Jenne has to be one to want help, yet she is so damn stubborn...

  “The souls of the victims can find solace that their murderers will be met with justice,” the woman continues, “and there will be no more victims.”

  “Not until the next Dam
ned appears. We keep fighting them, killing them, and collecting their Ash to destroy it. Yet, it seems to never end. How much longer will this war go on? Can the Damned ever be eradicated for good?”

  “So long as there are those that sin, the Damned will forever remain. Once, sin came from those that acted in ignorance. Now, in this age of information being at the push of a button, the mortals laugh at the consequences until it is too late. They beg and plea to not be punished for their sins, yet they will even harm those that give mercy to them. Jenne is but a mere handful that has accepted the punishment for her crimes with open arms.”

  “Even if the path that led them to commit those sins left them with no choice but to commit them?”

  “Redemption is a long path for one to take. Many never reach it.”

  Raiden blinks, and the world is full of sounds once more. He looks around to find that everything has started moving again. The woman that has been sitting across from him is gone, leaving no trace of whether or not she had been there.

  “Perhaps another day then, Metatron.”

  * * * *

  Lilia waits with a patience that has taken her years for her to develop, but that infamous patience is wearing thin right about now. Raiden had called her this morning to let her know that her former charge is going to be transferred to the Pennsylvania State Prison this afternoon and he has requested to see her once more time before he left. Lilia couldn’t believe it at first, for she had been certain that he didn’t want to see her again after their last meeting. The day at court had been a short one, the evidence the prosecution had overwhelming to the point any and all forms of defense made by her and the defense attorney useless. She had found the trial a complete waste of time, and her pride damaged because of it. Worse than that is her faith in her former charge has been shaken. She doubts that she, or anyone else for that matter, will fully trust him ever again after this.

  The social worker looks up as the door opens to the room she is waiting in, her former charge being led in by a police officer. He looks exhausted and thin, as if he hasn’t slept or eaten in awhile, which makes Lilia worry. We're the police taking care of him at all? Or...

  “Hello Lilia,” her former charge greets as he sits down across from her, “How are you?”

  “I could ask you the same thing,” Lilia states, arms crossed and looking displeased, “What were you thinking Gavin? I tried to help you, give you a means to live without having to resort to selling drugs.”

  “I know I know,” Gavin replies dejectedly, “You were quite annoying about it too. Do you really think that, even with your help, I could live like the rest of upper society?”

  “I have enough chips and friends to do that. Your history would not have affected-”

  “Spare me the lies,” Gavin waves her off, “The moment you think everything’s good and leave, I’ll be back on the streets. No one wants a former drug dealer. Just how many people did I addicted to the drug I sold? How many have died? That idiot of a boss I had at the motel had more than enough to put me away, and will use that information to make certain I wouldn’t go far from him. Not that it matters, anyway...”

  “Gavin,”

  “You said it yourself,” he looks at his hand with a smile so sad that he looks ready to cry, “I’m dying, right? I can feel it. I don’t have as much energy as I use to. The cops had a hard time waking me yesterday for breakfast. They had a doctor check me over. He couldn’t understand why my body isn’t working right like it should. My heart rate issue were than normal, and I don’t have much of an appetite no matter how much I starve myself. Doing something so simple as walking feels very exhausting, like I was running for hours...”

  “...I see. You’ve accepted your fate.”

  “Why me, Lilia? Why did this happen to me? Was I truly so evil that God is punishing me? I didn’t choose this life! My parents threw me out! What was I...what was I s-sup-p-pose to d-d-o...?”

  Gavin breaks down to tears, crying unashamed before her. He has every right to question his fate. Despite the crimes he has committed, he didn’t deserved to have his life cut so short, a life he could’ve spent redeeming himself for his sins. Now, he only has a few short years left to live, a few short years being spent in a prison with very little means to do anything. Lilia wants to comfort him, her heart going out to him, but she can’t. She has be a professional and put her feelings aside. Gavin is no longer her charge, and she can no longer help him.

  “I wish I knew that answer,” Lilia confessed, “We only have such a short time here on Earth. If only I had reached you sooner that night. I’m so sorry.”

  Gavin opens his teary eyes to look at her, seeing her eyes full of sincerity and guilt. Could it be? Could someone actually care about him after all this time? How ironic to find out at a time like this.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt,” the police officer said as he opens the door, “The bus will be leaving in five minutes.”

  “We just met up,” Lilia exclaims in protest, “Couldn’t the driver wait just a little bit longer?”

  “I’m sorry, but a thunderstorm is coming tonight and the warden wants the prisoners at the prison before it hits.”

  “Can’t we have just a few more minutes,” Lilia tries to bargain before Gavin stands, wiping his eyes, “Gavin...”

  “It’s okay,” he said, sounding calm, “We’re done here.”

  “But-”

  “You don’t need to worry about me anymore,” Gavin smiles at Lilia, “I need to start taking care of myself for now on. Who knows? I might get out in a few years for good behavior.”

  “...I’ll be waiting for you then,” Lilia offers a small smile, knowing that arguing further will be futile. Her former charge has made his choice and he is moving forward with hope, hope that he will live much longer than those few short years he had been predicted with. That he will get out of prison early and start his life anew.

  Sadly, she couldn’t tell him that such a hope will never become reality. That will be the last task she would do as his former social worker, the only thing she could do at this point.

  She really hated this part of the job. To say goodbye to one considered a lost cause.

  * * * *

  Jenne parks her car and enters the grocery store. Upon finishing her paperwork and taking a short nap that did very little to ease her exhaustion, She finds that she had forgotten that John had told her earlier that they need groceries. They had enough to make a quick breakfast that morning before John ran off for school and most like will stop by Daisy’s for free meals while waiting for his older sister to go shopping and refill their cabinets and refrigerator. She is partly at fault for not paying full attention while making breakfast with what they have left, but damn it, she is tired and unable to focus. Sometimes, it’s a pain to be working outside the office for long periods of time.

  Jenne grabs a shopping cart and walks down the aisles, grabbing the essentials as she goes. She grabs extra snacks that she can take with her on jobs just in case she gets hungry, as she is getting sick of fast food. She passes the stationary aisle and remembers that she needs pens. She grabs a few packs and checks her list for anything she could have missed. Satisfied that she has everything, she heads to the checkout line and watches the nearby television as she waits.

  “Police have declared the Single Family Serial Killer Case closed this morning after two medical students confessed to the murders after being brought in for questioning, two more having been caught and arrested while attempting to break and enter separate family homes with the intention to murder the families within. The four medical students are due for trial in the coming months, but their names will be classified as part of their plea agreements. For the Utgama Family, the first family that escaped from being murdered by one of the medical students, the good news may come as bittersweet.

  “Marius Utgama awoke this morning to learn that his wife, Ann Utgama, has tragically passed away. Medical personnel have been treating Ann for breast
cancer after she had a relapse one month ago, the cause of death still unknown until an autopsy can be performed. Our heartfelt and deepest sincerity go out to the Utgama Family.”

  “Real shame,” the cashier shakes his head as he scans the customer’s groceries, “These younger generations are getting worse: no respect to their elders, killing people. I fear for what this world’s coming to.”

  “That’s because parents aren’t home as much anymore and leave the parenting to strangers,” Jenne points out after the customer before he pays for his groceries and leaves, “Even the grandparents have to work since the uprise in prices is too much for their social security to handle alone.”

  “True enough, Jenne. I remember my parents being home half the time when I was a kid, and now they’re afraid that they have to work until they’re eighty to make ends meet. It doesn’t help that the rumors about the government trying to get rid of social security are getting worse.”

  “The demand of product and corporate greed will be the world’s downfall Miguel,” Jenne swipes her credit card to pay after her groceries are scanned, “By the way, how’s Bruce?”

  “Much happier thanks to you. He’s still getting lectures from his mommy for taking her wedding ring and dropping it in the sink drain.”

  “He won’t remember. He’s only.. what? Three?”

  “Four this Thursday. I have to pick up his cake Wednesday and one of my friends had agreed to be a clown for his party. You won’t believe how much it costs to rent a professional actor.”

  “I’ll believe it,” Jenne takes her bags of groceries from Miguel, “Have a nice day and say Happy Birthday for me.”

  “Will do.”

  Jenne leaves the grocery store and heads for home, her eyes narrowing. Something is watching her, and it isn’t one of Ellisaüch’s eyes. The watcher reeks heavily of sulfur and ice from wherever it is, and she has smelled that combination before. A time so long ago, yet still feels like yesterday. A smell many fear and hate. A smell, for some, that is of home. At the moment to Jenne, the smell is not welcomed.