Avoid if triggered by misplaced apostrophe's. (essayel) wrote in morningstar_mnr, @ 2008-04-18 17:33:00 |
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Entry tags: | chad, del, sniper |
Nixon Street, The City, about 8pm [second shooting]
"Don't get me wrong," Larry was saying. "Anna is my soul - I adore her AND the kids but sometimes it's just so good to get out of the house. Thanks Del."
Del leaned back in the passenger seat of Larry's truck and looked out of the window. "My pleasure," he said. "I've missed you too. The Manor has some nice people but they aren't the sort I can go to a bar for pool with, if you know what I mean. Well, I could with Eris but ..."
"So, Anna wants to know when we get to meet this girl," Larry asked with a grin. "Not that we're nosy or anything - just interested."
Del chuckled. "No of course you're not," he said. "I'll ask. Maybe we could go out for a few drinks one night - if you can get a sitter."
"Yeah," Larry agreed then growled as an SUV pulled out ahead of them. "What am I? Invisible?" he demanded. "You mofo," he added as the vehicle braked and slowed.
On the sidewalk a group of kids looked across at the vehicle. Del had just enough time to register that they were very young and seemed to have built in sneers before he heard three soft pops and one of the boys staggered back and fell.
"Fuck," Larry swore, slamming on the brakes and Del lurched forward into his seat belt.
"What?" Del said. "What happened?"
Larry slewed the car to the side of the road and jumped out. The boys were running, diving between houses and disappearing. The one who had fallen was sprawled, one leg thrown wide, the other doubled under him, one hand moving weakly on the pavement like a crippled crab.
Del got out too, still disbelieving, still puzzled, and ran after Larry, who stopped a few paces from the boy. "Ring 911," he ordered. "Del! Do it."
Del took his phone from his pocket, and pressed the buttons between frightened glances at the blood spreading on the pavement and Larry stooping and feeling for a pulse.
###
Chad had been on call that night. He'd gotten the call since he lived closest. When he arrived at the scene, the coroner was evaluating with scene investigators. He reported in to them, deterred a few passers by, then went to interview the two men standing in the distance. He nodded as he approached, flashed his badge and introduced himself.
"Evening guys. I'm officer Kennard." He declared, pulling a notebook and pen out of his breast pocket. "Just wanted to get a statement, ask a few questions about what you saw tonight. First I need to get your names and contact information."
With his hands in his pockets and his shoulders hunched miserably, Del glanced at Larry who nodded and said, "Lawrence Lamb, 6320, Ferry Street, here in the City."
Del cleared his throat and added, "Fidel Avilar, 7130, Morningstar Manor." He looked past at the body and swallowed then dragged his eyes away and focussed on the policeman. "Um - don't I know you?" he asked
Chad quickly wrote down the information the guys had given, and nodded at Mr. Avilar. "Seen you before. Live in the same building." He didn't look up from writing though. "S'ok. I'm a professional and knowing me or not doesn't matter. Where were you two heading tonight?"
"Heading home," Larry said. "We met after work for a beer and a game of pool and I'd invited Del back for some supper. We don't normally come this way but there's some work on the intersection so I took a short cut."
"We meet like this about once a week or ten days," Del added. He glanced at the body again then away. He felt stunned and sick and desperately wanted to go home.
Chad wrote in his notebook without looking up, or around at the scene really. "Guess the next obvious question is where were you going home from and did either of you see anything out of the normal happen before the incident under investigation?"
Larry answered again - Del seemed really shaken but then he was a Limey by upbringing. "We'd been to Macey's Pool Hall, had a couple of beers and were going home for supper. My wife was cooking and I like to see the kids before they go to bed."
His lips formed a thin line as he wrote in his notebook. "Neither of you saw anybody or anything that caused all of this?" He said gesturing over his shoulder. "Nothing out of place; nothing out of the ordinary?"
"Black Jeep Cherokee with tinted windows," Larry said. "It cut in in front of us, slowed as it got level with the victim then speeded away as he fell." He shrugged. "I was looking at the kid, didn't get the plate."
Del shifted. "It had a bumper sticker," he said. "I voted for the other guy - or something. And ..." he frowned trying to remember, "and the plates weren't standard - fancy ones - and they weren't local, they had Mo on them and I was trying to work out which state that meant." He looked apologetically at the police officer. "I'm sorry. That's not very observant. The windows were tinted purple."
Chad wrote down the information Larry and Del told him. "Missouri. Thank you. This is more than what we did have and there's a good possibility we can find the vehicle."
Larry nodded, his eyes flicking to the tableau further up the sidewalk where the paramedics were covering the body and lowering the trolley. "Can we go then?" he asked. "Only my phone has rung three times while we've been talking and I'm betting my wife is frantic. Please. At least let me call her again."
Chad nodded. "As far as I can see, you guys can go ahead on home. If there's anything else that you remember, no matter how little you think it is" he said pointedly at Del, "Please call me." He handed each of the men a business card with his name and numbers on them.
Del read it and then put it in his wallet. "Thanks Officer Kennard," he said and Larry grunted.
"Yeah," he said. "I hope you catch the bastard, whoever it was. Thanks, if I think of anything I'll be in touch." He grabbed Del's arm and tugged. "C'mon, kid."
"Night," Del said to the policeman and tried to smile then followed Larry back to his car, trying not to shiver. He felt cold, shocked and cold and sick.
"Come on," Larry said again starting the engine. "Let's get home. DAMN I need a drink."
"Yeah, me too," Del breathed, suddenly wanting to go home, his home. Wanting to see Eris. And he looked over his shoulder as Larry drove away, back at the policemen who, he guessed, probably wouldn't get home tonight at all.
Chad wanted to be able to go back home too, but he had to stay. There were lots of questions still unanswered and a lot of questions left to ask. It was going to be a long night followed by an even longer day of typing out reports.