Balefire by Ken Goddard

Author:Ken Goddard [Goddard, Ken]
Language: eng
Format: azw
Published: 2010-11-09T00:00:00+00:00

Sergeant Walter Andersen came into the emergency room at a run and was caught in mid-stride by his hysterical wife. He held her tightly, waiting for her uncontrolled shaking to subside. He listened as she tried to talk between sobs, and he soothed her and kissed her and helped the nurses get her settled. He waited beside the bed, holding her hand tightly, until the sedative took effect. Finally, he listened carefully as the doctor explained the recommended treatment for a nervous collapse, watching quietly as the nurses wheeled his wife out of the ER.

Then, as the double doors swung shut behind the nurses, the rigidly controlled expression on his face gave way to one of pure madness, and he whirled toward the nurse's desk.

Muscalino had listened to the hospital paging system, had watched as the nurse answered the phone and spoke quietly, and then had sat immobile as the uninjured Andersen burst into the emergency room. Muscalino was still sitting in the same spot, dazed and numb, when the clawed hand slammed into the base of his throat, closed around a handful of shirt and vest, and drove his upper body up and back into the plaster wall.

Bobby Muscalino was younger, thirty pounds heavier, and physically stronger than Andersen. But even if he had been able to dredge up the strength to fight against the steel-like grip, he still would have been paralyzed by the maniacal rage in the eyes inches away from his own.

"Why?" Andersen snarled. "Just tell me why."

Muscalino tried to speak, tried to explain, but he couldn't get the words past the frightening pressure against his throat. Instead he tried to stare back into the maddened eyes, bringing up the hand still clenched around the crumbled piece of teletype paper. Realizing he had inadvertently committed the worst possible offense against a fellow officer, he tensed against the expected fist. He was relieved when the pressure against his throat suddenly released. His eyes closed, and he slumped back against the wall, as Andersen stared at the scrap of paper.

Andersen read the teletype message three times before he dropped the paper on the desk. He was almost blind with rage as he reached out for the phone. He didn't see the gnarled hand pick up the paper. All of his concentration was focused on what he was going to say to the Watch Commander. He would handle Communications in person when he got back to the station.

"Watch Commander's office. Gilcrist."

Andersen took in a preparatory breath, ready to vent his rage, when a thick hand, scarred by many fishing lines, clamped around his wrist. A second hand of identical character and strength removed the phone from Andersen's grasp.

"This is Sager." The voice of the man who had effortlessly stripped the phone from Andersen's clenched hand was as cold and unforgiving as the ocean.

"Yes, sir." Gilcrist flinched at the sound of Sager's voice.

"You are to relieve the entire watch immediately," Sager ordered. "Replace them with sworn officers until you can call in replacements.

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