When evil comes out to play:
An owl hooted high above in a tree and a full moon shone down, casting shadows on everything. Horace sat on the park bench and sipped from a bottle concealed within a brown bag. His toes poked through the front of his shabby shoes and he wished that the night was less cold or that he was somewhere warmer. There was always the bonfire but the youngsters had teased him and said they'd throw him on it. Miserable little sods they'd pay for their meanness! With his one good arm, he lifted the bottle to his lips and took another sip.
Meanwhile, not too far away, thirteen year old Megan was annoyed. It was bad enough that she'd been forced to chaperon "the brats" for their round of trick or treating. Worse was the fact that she'd been complimented on her witch's costume when she hadn't even bothered with an outfit - it was time she reflected for a serious shopping spree! Worst of all, though, was discovering that her precious bike had been chucked on the fire that the neighborhood's goons had set up. It was completely ruined and she had no doubt who had orchestrated this act of vandalism. She'd call the police and see how funny Shelly and her dimwit boyape would find that? First, though, she needed to get the brats back as it was well past their bedtime.
Officer Jim Bruce regarded the corpse. Forensics would have to be called in to check for fingerprints and other clever stuff like that. He set about making sure the crime scene was undisturbed and, to that end, got the new recruit to mark it off with flourescent yellow tape. He was sure it was a crime scene due to the bloodied hammer lying next to the boy.
When the forensics team arrived, Bruce briefed them and then left them to do their job. Next, he rounded up Officer Hernandez (the new recruit) and went knocking on doors. It wasn't too difficult to figure out who the bonfire ringleader had been, so they started with the O'Brady family.
"My son, James, is a good boy" said Mrs O'Brady, protectively pulling a sullen youth to her ample bosom.
"That's as maybe" replied Bruce carefully, "but we've got reports he was involved in that bonfire and the dirt on his face sure looks like it confirms it."
"'Only a bit of harmless fun' responded Mrs O'Brady.
"The dead boy's family might disagree" commented Officer Gabriella Hernandez. Mrs O'Brady fell silent. Word of the death had spread quickly.
"We need to ask some questions" interjected Bruce. "Normal procedure, you understand" he added diplomatically. James O'Brady was built like his mom - sturdy. He didn't seem the talkative type and Bruce was relieved when Mrs O'Brady became a surprising ally.
"Tell the police officers what happened, James" she scolded. "I know you never killed nobody! And anyway, you were with Shelly the whole time, weren't you?"
"'Shelly?" asked Hernandez.
"His girlfriend" beamed his proud mom. "Lovely little girl".
"I see" cut in Bruce, looking at James.
"I don't know what happened. We was just playing" muttered James.
"Playing?" repeated Hernandez. "Is that what you call playing these days?"
"I didn't kill Paul!" shouted James, half rising to his feet and hands clenched at his sides.
"Okay, calm down" commanded Bruce evenly. He was glad to see the youth sit back down.
James licked his lips like they were real dry. "There was a stinkin' old hobo hanging around" he whispered. "Maybe he killed Paul?" Tears came to the boy's eyes and Mrs O'Brady pulled her son into her embrace.
"Are you happy now?" she rebuked. "I told you my boy wasn't involved".
It didn't take the police officers long to find Horace Saunders. The stooped figure was one of a gaggle of bystanders at the perimeter of the crime scene. "Is it okay if we speak, sir?" enquired Bruce.
"Ain't done nuthin'!" grunted Horace and turned to shuffle away.
"Eh, wait up, not so fast!" called Hernandez as she cut him off.
"What's the hurry? Who said you did anything?"
"Huh!" grunted the hobo. "Yer kind always blamin' the likes of Horace when stuff happens! I got this whilst serving the nation you know!" he shouted, pointing to his damaged right arm.
"You served in the forces, Horace?" said Bruce kindly.
"Nope. Pest control" replied Horace. "Damn rat bit me and it infected"
"Ew!" commented Hernandez squeamishly.
"You have any dealings with the bonfire kids, Horatio?" asked Bruce.
"Dealings?" replied Horatio. "They threatened to throw me on that there fire. You call that dealings?"
"I call that motive" muttered Hernandez.
Bruce gave his younger colleague a look, then turned back to the old man. "You wouldn't happen to own a hammer?" he asked.
"Yes" replied Horace emphatically "and the little bleeders stole it from me!"
"What do you hold the hammer for, Horatio?" asked Bruce.
"For protection, ya daft bugger" came the reply.
Hernandez was all for citing the hobo for insulting a police officer. Bruce, though, just got Horace's full name and told him not to go too far.
"Yeah, I might just jump on a plane!" sniggered Horace as they headed over towards the forensics team.
"You found anything?" enquired Bruce.
"Yeah. The boy was Paul Dean" reported Steve Lyle, the forensics chief. "Got it from his video card".
"Anything I don't already know?" commented Bruce.
"Well, he died of blows to the head from that hammer" continued Lyle, pointing to the hammer that was now in an evidence bag, "and the attacker was right handed".
"You sure?" checked Bruce.
"Yeah" replied Lyle. "The angle of the blows, you see. It's definitive."
"Good work" replied Bruce and beckoned to Hernandez. "Let's pay young mister O'Brady another visit!"
"There's one more thing, Officer" added Lyle. "The charred bike on the fire. It belonged to a local girl called Megan Jones. Her house is over there".
"Okay" replied Bruce. "Change of plan. Let's speak to the girl first."
The girl wasn't in however. There were just some kids who were running amok with a pillow fight. "You stay here and find out where the parents are" directed Bruce.
"What! You mean I have to babysit these?!" Hernandez complained resignedly.
"Yeah, I'll see if I can find Miss Megan" replied Bruce. At Megan's name one of the kids ran up.
"Megan said a bad word and then ran out, mister".
Bruce knelt down and looked into the little boy's eyes. "Did she? What did she say? It's okay, I'm a police officer".
"She said Shelly is a bitch!"
"Did she now?" commented Bruce. "That's interesting. Thank you." He got up and patted the boy on the head, before striding towards the door.
It only took a minute to track down where Shelly Smith lived. When Bruce got to the door, he could hear a commotion within. The door was opened so he walked right in. There in front of him were two teenage girls, trading punches, and kicks and pulling hair. Bruce lunged in and separated them. They were both covered in blood but he noticed that most of it was on the Smith girl.
"She killed Paul!" screamed Megan.
"So did not!" screamed back Shelly.
Bruce decided on a novel solution. He dragged the girls to the O'Brady house and radioed for Hernandez to join him and bring Horace. The brats' parents were back and Mr Jones came across too.
"Okay" stated Bruce firmly. "Paul Dean was killed tonight. It wasn't Horace here on account of his bad arm. James, I'm thinking you stole Horace's hammer?" Mrs O'Brady stared at her son when he remained silent.
"Yes, he did" cried Shelly. "I'm so sorry, James" she sobbed.
"What?!" replied James, taken aback. "Shelly, no! It was Paul!"
"Paul stole the hammer and then killed himself?" mocked Hernandez. James clammed up again.
"That blood on your shirt, Shelly" stated Bruce. "Looks like it didn't all come from Megan, here? If we put that through forensics, what are the chances that it's Paul's blood and that your fingerprints are on the hammer?"
At this threat, something seemed to break in Shelly. Her eyes went from defiant to resigned and teary. "He was supposed to like me, not her!" shouted Shelly suddenly between chest-heaving sobs. "He shouted at me when we threw her stupid bike on the fire!"' She pointed accusingly at Megan.
James was crying too now. "I tried to stop her" he blubbered. "She didn't know what she was doing."
"I think she knew exactly what she was doing" commented Hernandez quietly.
Bruce said nothing, just sighed and went over and put his hand on Shelly's shoulder. "You're going to have to come with me, I'm afraid. Hernandez, see if you can find the girl's parents."