Nearly Defeated

Stepping out of his office, the captain glances around. He quickly discovers the few remaining officers are busy at their desks. Some are writing reports, while the rest are taking statements. That's what I like to see. He thinks, eyeing his crew.

He's been a part of the police force for over thirty years. It's become his life, his reason for being. Last month his doctor suggested he retire, claiming his old ticker can't take much more. With his ever-growing health issues and a sickly wife at home, he knows he should but can't get around to pulling the plug on his career. How can I give up the only thing I've ever known? He reasons, putting his resignation off another day. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and soon it will be a year.

He finds his detectives nodding at their desks as he scans the room. They can't get anything accomplished like that. He rushes towards them, clears his throat, and says, "There's nothing more you can do tonight. So you might as well go on home."

"If you insist, captain," Joe says, eyeing his crew. He and Jerry have long since made up, but Rachel has yet to forgive him, giving him the cold shoulder and a bone-chilling glare now and then.

Rachel feels bewildered. Their life-long friendship, or what she thought was a long-term friendship, was destroyed when Joe finally admitted the truth.

The three gather their things when they see a dispatcher walking toward them.

"Captain, detectives, we just received a phone call about a fire at the bowling alley. The witness claims that the entire building is in flames."

"Let the uniforms handle it." the captain says, eyeing his exhausted crew.

"They are, but they thought you might want to know because the witness claims she saw a dark coupe fleeing the scene."

Joe glances toward his crew. With a sullen look, he turns and says, "We've got it, captain."

"I can get someone else to cover for you, Sergeant."

"No, it's our case, so we need to see it through."

Nodding in agreement, the detectives shuffle toward the door.

***

The parking lot is filled with cruisers when Joe and his detectives pull up to the scene. Some of the crime scene team secures the area while the remaining crew searches for clues.

Kirk, the lead crime scene analyst, runs over to greet them when they step out of the car. "I thought you'd want to know about the fire, sir since the perp you're looking for started it," he explains, running to keep up with the Sergeant's wide strides. Joe's been Kirk's idol since he started on the force ten years ago. Kirk loved forensics in the beginning, but recently it's become mundane, so he's looking for something new. He hopes someday he'll work alongside the sergeant as his detective.

Joe nods. "I appreciate it, Kirk. So, what can you tell us?" he questions as he and his crew continue toward the scene.

"We found two plastic gas canisters in the bushes. My team is dusting it for prints now. They also found a fresh set of footprints in the dirt. We made an impression and then sent it to the lab.

"You said there's a witness?"

"One of the owners." He points toward a tearful lady on the bench. "She didn't see him do it, but she caught him fleeing the scene."

"I'll get her statement, Sergeant," Rachel offers.

Joe nods. "Is she the only witness?"

"So far, but rookies are still canvassing the neighborhood."

"Ok, thank you." Joe sees Jerry walking toward him when he turns around.

" I spoke to the fire marshal. He says the fire is arson, and the person used gasoline as an accelerant."

"He just confirmed what we suspected." They've been discussing different possibilities on the way over.

Jerry nods. "Yes, boss. According to the body impression found in the weeds, our perp is around six foot three, average build, which collaborates with what the witnesses at the Walmart said."

"Have forensics search the entire area for evidence."

Yes, sir." Joe starts towards the parking lot when Rachel calls his name. He turns to find her heading his way.

"The witness told me the coupe was dark blue, not black. She's able to give a good description of the driver, so I'm having her talk to a sketch artist now."

"Did she get a license plate number?"

"She said he left so quickly that she couldn't read it. She does remember it being an Arkansas plate."

"Did you ask her if she knows anyone who might have a grudge against her?"

"She can't think of anyone. She claims she hasn't had any trouble with the customers, and her employees have worked for her for years."

"Interview her husband, and see if he can tell us more."

"He's on his way." Joe starts to walk off when she grabs his arm.

He spins around.

"Joe, I'm sorry if I said something to make you mad." She glances toward the ground, then looks up with tears in her eyes, "I didn't mean to." She figures that has to be it since they've been besties all through school.

"It wasn't you, I... I just have a lot on my mind, work and stuff. You know how it goes."

"I'm always here if you need to talk."

"I appreciate it, detective." After a long awkward silence of trying to figure out what to say, Joe turns and walks away.

***

Julie and the intruder are near the basement door when they hear tiny footsteps shuffling around upstairs. Terrified, Julie glances toward the steps. Please don't come down here. Please don't come down here, she silently begs.

He squeezes her arm tighter. Through gritted teeth, he says, "See what you've gone and done. You've woken the girls with all your damn bawling and carrying on."

"I… I didn't mean to." Julie says, keeping her eye on the stairs.

The intruder eyes the steps. He turns toward Julie and says, "I'll deal with them, and then we'll have a little fun."

"Please, don't hurt my babies, Please, she begs, falling to her knees.

Grabbing a handful of hair with his free hand, he pulls Julie to her feet. "I can't have the little brats calling the fuzz on me."

"They're too little to know how to do that," she lies, hoping to stall for time. She glances upstairs again. Please, girls, please get somewhere safe, she mentally begs.

"I can't take a chance of them running for help, either."

"The locks on the doors are too high for either of them to reach," Julie reasons. She insisted Jeff install locks near the top after her neighbor's child wandered out alone and nearly died. She points toward the door.

He looks at her and then at the steps. "I don't want to take any chances."

"Please, no. Please don't do this," Julie begs, tears streaming down her face.

Dragging her across the floor, he tosses her into the chair.

Julie springs to her feet.

He pushes her down. "You'll stay put if you know what's good for you and them," he growls, eyeing the stairs.

Bewildered, Julie stares up at him, unsure of what she should do. She didn't want to keep fighting and risk him harming the girls, but she didn't want this vile man anywhere near her babies.

Finished with the ropes, he winks, rubs his manhood, and says, "I'll be thinking about you when I'm gone."

Horrid images race through her mind as the intruder makes his way up the stairs. "I can't let anything happen to the girls. I can't."

She jerks on her restraints, hoping she can pull free. The coarse rope cuts into her skin. I have to do this. She yanks again, wincing from the pain as she struggles to break free. That didn't work. Julie turns her arm sideways, hoping it'll give her a little slack. She feels the cord loosen a tad. I hope it's enough. She wiggles her thumb back and forth as she pulls her arm free. The strap drops a little more. I can do this.

A floorboard squeaks. Julie looks up to discover the intruder is at the top of the stairs. I have to hurry, she thinks. Julie gives the restraint a hard tug. The band falls to the floor. Now for my feet. She tries to untie her second restraint, but the knot refuses to give. Hearing him stomping around upstairs, Julie nervously eyes the steps. Come on, come on, she thinks, trying to focus on the rope. The binding doesn't budge. She studies the knot and tries again. An upstairs door slams against the wall. Her oldest daughter screams. I've got to hurry. Unwinding the rope from around her legs, she grabs a knife from the cabinet and races up the stairs. "I'm going to end this once and for all."