***
Jerry and Jeff discovers a deserted area when they pull up to the scene. There's yellow tape around what they believe to be the perimeter, but nothing else was done.
"You'd think they'd be more professional, leaving the crime scene unprotected this way."
"Maybe they're on another call." Seeing the look on Jeff's face, he adds. "I'm not defending what they did, but it sometimes happens, especially in a rural area where the resources are scarce." he pauses a second then adds, "Berryville had the exact same problem not too long ago."
"Really?"
"There were only four of us when Joe and I joined the squad, but then again, Berryville was only half the size it is now. But because it was so small, we were responsible for gathering our evidence and shipping it to the lab."
"You didn't even have a lab?"
"Nope, and the nearest one was way down in Little Rock. Speaking of forensics." He points down the road.
"Maybe now we can get out of here before the end of the day."
Pulling up beside them, Kirk hops out of the car. "I'm here to help process the scene," he explains, grabbing his kit from the car, he ducks under the police tape. He didn't make it too far when he stops and says, "You need to see this, Sergeant."
Jeff turns toward his partner. With a confused look on his face, he asks, "Sergeant?"
"It's not official yet. Not until the first of the month if things go as planned."
Jeff digests the news, scratches his five o'clock shadow then asks, "Joe isn't leaving, is he?"
Jerry chuckles. "A bit of wishful thinking, there, lad?"Joe always seems to be on Jeff's case about the tiniest thing. The Serg claims he's trying to bring out the best in the guy, but Jerry believes it's only causing animosity between them.
Jeff shrugged. "I honestly don't care what he does."
"That's good because Joe isn't going anywhere anytime soon." He thinks a second, then adds, "Knowing Joe as well as I do, I'd say he'll probably be a part of the squad until his dying day."
Lucky me, Jeff thinks. "So we're going to have two sergeants now?"
"No, no. Joe is taking the captain position when Murphy retires." He glances around, then adds, "We have to keep this on the dl because it's not official yet." The brass has been fighting Joe on his promotion every step of the way.
"Copy that, sir. Wait, did you say Murphy is retiring?"
Jerry nods."He wants to be with his wife in her final days."
Glancing over at Kirk, he asks, "How did Kirk know about this, but I didn't?"
"That's a good question." Walking over to Kirk, Jerry asks, "How did you know?"
Smiling, Kirk says, "They don't call me boy wonder for nothing." They've nicknamed him boy wonder and or boy genius since he began because he seems to have vast knowledge in just about everything.
"Joe told you, right?"
"He never said anything to me."
"How did you find out?"
Kirk chuckles, "I'll never tell."
"So what did you find."
"This." Kirk points toward a brownish liquid seeping into the soil." I believe they were murdered here and then dragged to the car."
"Where they were burnt to a crisp," Jeff adds, scanning the pile of ash.
"Thanks for your input, captain obvious."
Jeff smiles and says, "Glad I could help."
Shaking his head, Jerry says, "The only reason someone would do that is to cover up evidence or make sure the victim's identity remains unknown." He pauses a second, then adds, "Kirk, I want you too…."
The young tech nods. "I'm on it, Serg." Taking a sketchbook from his bag, he draws the scene. Grabbing his camera, he takes pictures, making sure he takes double shots of any evidence he finds. Grabbing a clean doppler from his bag, he takes a sample of blood. He then cast the two sets of footprints.
Jerry surveys the desolate area, turns towards Kirk, and says, "Collecting all this evidence is going to be a big undertaking alone."
Kirk smiles and says, "I can handle it, sir."
"I know you can better than most, but you shouldn't have to."
"I don't mind." Kirk would rather be out in the field than in the sterile lab doing tedious tasks. He occasionally entertains the notion of becoming a detective, but being an introvert, he isn't sure how well he'll do.
"You don't want to be stuck out here all night, do you?"
Kirk looks around again. He then imagines what the area will be like in the dark and shivers at that thought. "Help would be greatly appreciated, sir."
Laughing, Jerry says, "I'll see what I can do. He's reaching for his radio when he hears a dispatcher say,
"All available units, please be advised. Two known fugitives are headed north down old Mill Road. Officers in the pursuit are requesting assistance. Repeat, officers are requesting assistance."
"Let's go," Jerry says, racing to the car.
***
The man watches as Granny pulls the trigger a few more times. Laughing, he shakes his head. Rolling his eyes, he says, "Give it up, woman, before you hurt yourself."
With fire in her eyes, Granny tries again, but no matter how hard she pulls, the tiny metal piece wouldn't budge.
"Stupid broads, he mutters, jerking the gun away." You have to cock it first, bone head." Cocking the weapon, he aims it toward Granny's head. "Get out of the vehicle nice and slow with your hands in the air. Any sudden movement, and I'll shoot you where you stand."
Granny scans the truck hoping to devise a plan, but all she finds are empties scattered across the floor. Remembering their predicament, Granny looks over to see the cops moving in.
The man glances over to where she's staring smiles and says, "You're wanted by the cops, are you?" Giving her a quick once over, he adds, "That doesn't surprise me none." He suddenly recalls the news flash on TV. His bronze face turns ghostly white. Gripping the weapon tighter, he glares into the gun's scope and says, "Move, and I'll shoot."
Granny hears a kerplunk. She then sees the brawny man fold to the ground. She looks up to find her partner standing behind him, her gun cane in hand.
"I had a feeling that we might need this. Handing it to Granny, Jackie grabs the keys from the man's hand. Jumping in, she glances around to find the cops are closing in. In a shaky voice, she says, "It's do or die."
Looking around, Granny discovers that they're surrounded. With tears in her eyes, she turns toward Jackie and asks, "What are you going to do?"
"Mow down all the sons of beaches that get in the way." She's had a dislike for cops since she was a girl. Jackie ran to a cop for help, but he and a few of his cop buddies took advantage of her, instead. They then threatened to throw her in juvie if she didn't continue to do what she's told. Jackie turns the key. The truck roars to life. Throwing it in gear, Jackie tries to take off. The vehicle jumps and then dies.
"Ease off the clutch and give it more gas," Granny nervously suggests.
Nodding, Jackies tries again. The truck sputters forward and then dies.
"Do you want me to drive?"
Jackie waves her off. "I'll get it this time."
"We'll be shot down if you don't."Granny says, watching the armed men move in.
Jackie starts the truck again. Grabbing the wheel with both hands, she takes a deep breath and says. "I can do this." She eases off the clutch as she pushes on the gas. The truck flies forward. Granny tumbles against the seat. "Hang on," she warns, floating the tranny over to third gear.
Straightening in her seat, Granny looks up to see cop springing out of their way. She hears bullets ping off the side as they speed away.
"That was close," Granny says, watching the cops fade out of sight.
"Jackie points to the cruisers coming from either side of the field. "We're not out of the woods yet." Scooting up in her seat, Jackie throws it in high gear and then floors the gas. She glances to her left and then over to her right to find the cops are quickly closing in. With fear in her eyes, she looks over at Granny and says, "If you've never prayed before, now would be a great time to start. Otherwise, we may go out like Bonnie and Clyde."
***