The Detective

Josh had recently transferred to his new precinct as a homicide detective. He was partnered with an older senior detective that was near the end of his long career.

Mark was a twenty five year veteran and had seen more then his fair share of senseless violence in this dark and cold city. He had long ago lost his positive thinking and sense of hope. Now it was just on to the next case.

Mark was not happy being assigned a rookie detective in Josh as a partner. 

As they arrived to the crime scene, Mark lit a cigarette as they exited their unmarked Crown Victoria.

Josh was eager for his first case. Since he had transitioned he had heard the rumors of a city gang war and with the recent influx of gang members dropping dead he couldn’t help but think it was true.

Josh attempted to follow Mark's lead the best he could. They approached the scene and stopped to speak with the head patrolman on scene.

“what do we have" asked Mark. 

“Another gang banger with two to the back of the head” said the patrolman.

As they examined the scene Josh couldn’t help to think there was no way they were going to solve this one. No witnesses no real evidence whatsoever.

“Let’s head back to the station" said Mark unenthusiastically.

As they began the drive back in silence Josh had so many questions but he figured he'd be better off keeping his mouth shut.

Josh had heard Mark's wife of thirty years had recently passed and thought that could be why he came across so cold and uninterested in his presence.

As they arrived at the station they began a deep dive into the victim’s extensive criminal history. No next of kin other than a brother that had also been murdered in similar circumstances just a few weeks prior.

Josh couldn’t help but begin to feel hopeless that his first case would go unsolved.

It seemed Mark was almost reading his mind when he said “these gang killings are nearly impossible to solve".

As the shift came to an end Josh was shocked when Mark asked if he wanted to stop and get a beer. 

Josh himself was kind of a loaner and didn’t have very many friends since he had committed his life to getting to that detective spot.

Josh instantly took him up on the offer.

As they sat down at the old Irish pub Mark ordered for them both. Josh sat quietly trying to think of anything to talk about. There was an almost unspoken rule with the old timers of not speaking about work whatsoever outside of it.

To his surprise Mark asked what he thought of his first case.

Josh explained how frustrated he felt thinking it'd be unsolvable. Just then Josh got a call from an old academy class mate.

He knew his class mate had started working in the narcotics division and wondered why he could be calling. 

As he answered, his classmate began filling him in on some information. Josh couldn’t hide his excitement.

As he hung up he couldn’t wait to fill Mark in on his newly acquired information. 

He told Mark how their victim had apparently cut a deal to be an informant and had been wired when he was killed.

To Josh's dismay Mark had no reaction.

Josh decided to call it a night he couldn’t wait to get in and listen to the audio in the morning.

As Josh arrived at the station he was giddy with excitement, this case might be solvable yet.

To his surprise Mark had beat him in. Mark informed him he had already listened to the audio and that there was nothing worth anything on it. 

Josh wanted to listen for himself thinking he might be able to find something but Mark informed him he had already deleted their copy.

Josh was instantly angered. He didn’t dare say it though due to the fear of being sent back to patrol.

As the days passed Josh began seeing more of a bitter side from Mark. As another gang banger’s body dropped it seemed to Josh that Mark was almost happy for this supposed gang war.

He then learned from another detective that Mark's wife had actually been murdered. Josh hadn’t known that. He learned that it had been an attempted robbery by a suspected gang member and she was shot in the head. Josh was shocked to hear this. He was shocked even more when he learned the suspect had never been identified.

As he sat at his desk processing the new information a thought crossed his mind. What if Mark was the killer? What if it wasn’t actually a gang war?

He quickly dismissed the thought almost laughing out loud at the idea. As Josh laid awake in bed that night he couldn’t help but think more of the idea of Mark being the killer. The more he thought the more it made sense.

He knew it was late but he called his classmate from the academy. To his surprise he answered on the first ring.

He asked him if he still had a copy of the audio from his first case. His classmate informed him he did and could send it to him first thing in the morning.

Josh decided not to wait and headed in to the station. Josh waited at his desk the rest of the sleepless night.

His computer finally dinged alerting him to a new email.

As he listened to the recording chills ran down his spine as he instantly recognized the voice he heard.

He immediately began second guessing himself making excuses. As much as he tried there was no denying the voice he heard was in fact Mark.

He didn’t know what to do. He sat back taking in several deep breaths. Finally he decided he needed more evidence. 

He did his best to act normal as he and Mark went about their shift. That night he came up with a plan to follow Mark.

To his dismay it had been uneventful as Mark went to the liquor store before settling in at home.

Josh was getting ready to call it a night when to his surprise Mark came out of his house. As he watched through his binoculars Mark got into his Crown Victoria and backed out of the drive.

Josh kept his distance following him through what felt like were the worst areas of the city.

Mark then came to a stop at an old abandoned warehouse.

Josh parked around the block and walked in. He began slowly clearing the building. He thought to himself this is it I’m going to catch him red handed.

He began hearing voices that sounded as though someone was begging for their life. As he peered into the room he could see one of the local gang leaders tied to a chair.

He looked but didn’t see Mark. As he slowly entered the room he heard a noise behind him. 

He turned as fast as he could raising his gun. He was too late. He didn’t hear the shots but felt the impact as the two projectiles struck him square in the chest knocking him to the ground.

As he lay there the life drained from his body. “you never should have came" Mark said as he walked towards him.

“Why" Josh managed to say as he coughed up blood. 

“They took everything from me” Mark yelled. “it’s more than past time for them to pay". Josh hadn’t heard him he had already been gone.

Mark walked over picked up Josh's gun and shot the gang leader twice in the back of the head.

The next day the headlines read “ Hero Detective Stops Serial Killer". Mark had played the story out to perfection getting his revenge for the murder of his wife.

He felt some guilt for Josh but to him it was a necessary sacrifice to revenge his wife.