Beneath Devil's Lake by Cole Steele

Author:Cole Steele
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cole steele, roman lee series, roman lee, crime fiction, detective series
Publisher: Eric Viele
Published: 2017-02-22T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-seven

11:30AM

The morning sidewalk traffic was bustling with activity in downtown Kirkwood. The sun was out with the weather slightly warmer than normal. Outside the doors stood an extended line leading into the Cobblestone Deli. Burt Clement was relieved and stressed at the unexpected uptick in business. Sales had fallen off a bit due to the recent colder temperatures.

Brandi Smith had joined her friends from nearby Huron University for the short walk to get something to eat between classes. While waiting in line for her order she thought about the figure in the alley that caught her attention. Her curiosity piqued she planned on investigating on the way back to campus. They had encountered some street people on the way in who had asked for money. Some of the girls were rather rude telling them they needed to get a job. Brandi was somewhat embarrassed by their behavior and lack of compassion. She felt she needed to do something.

Deciding to eat on the benches outside back at campus the group set off for the walk back. Only Brandi remained behind. Her friends scarcely noticed as they were texting while some checked their Facebook accounts as they walked. She ventured into the alley next to the Deli. Her sandwich had been cut in half as she requested. Despite her hesitation, Brandi Smith was stepping out of her comfort zone and was going to help someone today. The person that she noticed earlier had an odd appearance as Brandi drew closer. Crouching down to the level of the slumped over figure she offered half of her food. The smell in the alley was awful so much her eyes watered. Odors ranged from sweet to sickening including urine and stale alcohol. When she offered a second time with no response she tapped the person on their shoulder thinking perhaps they were asleep. A lifeless head rolled off falling at her feet. Letting out a blood curdling deafening scream that suddenly halted the earth on its axis which had everyone answering her pleading for help.

The alley began to fill with customers from the deli among the street people who inhabited the narrow passage between the buildings. Burt Clement along with two of his employees raced out to check on the commotion. When it was discovered that it was a deceased person Burt went back to retrieve a couple of blankets to cover the now discovered remains. Even Brandi’s friends had sprinted back in time to see what all the commotion was about. One of them tastelessly snapped a pic of the shaved head as it laid on the concrete.

Burt Clement did his best to usher the crowd away from the remains and out of the alley. Taking out his cellphone he immediately dialed 911.

Joel Blake looking down out of his office across the street at the Brick Street Bureau had witnessed the entire event unfold. He was very observant of even the smallest of details. This characteristic he believed is what separated him from his peers in the business of journalism.

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