Smith & Ronalds-Origins & Conclusions (1)
Patrick Collins

 

CHAPTER ONE
EARLY JUDGEMENT


March 16th 1997-
Life is odd isn’t it? Thought David Ronalds as he sat at his desk at Station Three of the Bloomington, Indiana Police Department. He picked up a small and thick brown book. The cover read: 1996: A YEAR OF CHANGE. The title referred to a year that none of Station Three would ever forget. It brought a threat. A threat to end the uniqueness of S3. It was proposed that year to combine Stations 2&3. Station Two and Station Three did not like each other well. A vote was carried to decide if they should be combined or not. David remembered that final ‘Yes’ that determined the almost certain end of countless jobs. Until at the last minute, a most unexpected thing happened: Carrie Moss changed her vote! Carrie was a quite despised detective. Always dreaded by most for her Smart Alec remarks as well as common rude insults. But David soon realized that beneath that hard shell was a good heart. The last person in the world you would ever expect to, saved Station Three. As David thought of it he flipped to a lengthy page of A YEAR OF CHANGE. It said: A Case of Early Judgment. This book was really the diary of Dr. Hector J. Stone, a good friend of David’s, as well as to his other friend, Trevor Smith. The passage in the diary read:

Early judgment can turn out to be a very bad mistake. As I myself learned when I came to know a woman by the name of Carrie Moss. When you first meet her, you are skeptical to say the least. But she is, deep down, an okay person. She still, at times, can get on your nerves quite a bit, but she, Trevor & David get along much better now than they ounce did. As the old cliché goes: Don’t judge a book by its cover. I have modified it a bit: Don’t judge a book by it first printing. What I mean by that is at first the book may have its flaws, but when proofread and given deeper thought it can turn out a bestseller. Comparing ourselves to others can also cause early judgment. Carrie is simply a comparative person. You have to watch the way you say certain things, or you will regret it later. All books deserve a second printing.

-H.J. STONE


David slowly closed the book and thought about Hector’s provocative words. He had worked on many hard cases in his career, but none were as difficult as trying to figure out Carrie. She seemed to like to be able to talk to other people, and often times said very mean things to them, without worrying about them thinking that she did. It was almost like she didn’t know she was being mean. David sighed. He got up from his chair and walked out of his office. Another aspect that made 1996 unforgettable was the presidential election. It nearly tore apart everyone in Station Three with political arguments. The solution to that problem also came from Hector’s diary. David had walked into the voting booth and cast his vote. He had come out of the booth and never told another soul whom he had voted for. It was his business and his alone. Telling other people things like that will only cause arguments among friends and family. Bill Clinton ended up being re-elected in the end, to the dismay of some and the relief of others. David never spoke of his opinion to anybody. No one knew if he was happy or sad about it. David continued down the hallway and into Trevor’s office. Trevor was one of David’s best friends When he looked inside his office there was a woman there. “May I help you?” She said. David was puzzled. “Is Trevor around?” The woman shook her head. “He called in sick.” David knew that Trevor was never really sick when he called in so. He was so bored that he would just give up on work. David partially understood, but disapproved of lying to get off work. As he was halfway back up the hall, he heard a Telephone ring. It was coming from his office. He sighed, and then raced to his desk. He picked up the phone. “Station Three of the BPD, David Ronalds speaking.” He said. The voice on the other line was a familiar one. “Hi Dave!” David smiled. “Hi Hector.” He said. “How is everything going?” “Fine.” Said Hector. “I am doing pretty well over here. California is a pretty nice place.” David nodded (despite the fact that Hector could not see him,). “Any cases lately?” He asked. He heard Hector sigh. “One.” He said. “But it’s a very slow one, to say the least.” David could tell by the tone of Hector’s voice that he was not at all pleased by his new cases. “I have to go.” Said Hector. “I’ll catch you later. Bye.” David was about to say “Bye” back but was hung up on. David was beginning to think that Hector was under a lot of stress. He decided he would try to contact Trevor and talk to him about it. He and David, along with Dr. Cedric Madison, were an almost unstoppable crime solving team. Cedric had just recovered from an arm replacement a few months ago. He had lost it in a case the previous year in which mad man Jeffery Dayton sucked blood out of victims with a sort of vacuum and fed the blood to his pet Vampire Bats. He recovered over a time frame of about six months. Cedric worked in the Photographic Evidence Development area of Station Three. Trevor, on the other hand, was a fellow cop. He was a man with an overly casual dress style and was know to be obsessed with pop-culture items. He was still, a very good case solver. He started out working as a security guard in a mall in Indianapolis. Nearly every case they had worked on in the last two years proved to change their lives dramatically. They had lost friends and gained them, were injured; yet they recovered. It was now 1997. Many things had changed in the prior year. David had got his first Caller Identification unit a few weeks prior. He also got a new Car Phone. Life was getting better by the minute. Yet he had not had a good case in a long while. Each one in the past months had been so easy to solve that it was almost funny. David shuddered as he thought of how easy his next one would probably be. He finally picked up his phone and dialed Trevor’s home number. It rang a total of five times before: “YO! You have reached Trevor Edward Smith, I’m apparently not here now, so leave a message or call me back later. Wait for the beep though!” BEEEEEEP! David just hung up. Trevor never checked his messages anyway. He decided to call Cedric instead. He dialed his number. Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring... “Hi, this is Dr. Cedric Madison, I’m not available now so leave a message after the beep. Thanks.” BEEEEEEP! David hung up again. David was bored out of his very head. David decided to go to visit Carrie. She was the only person that David got along with (most of the time anyway) who was still working. He got up from the desk and went into the hallway. He saw that Carrie was laughing her head off with another woman about her age. “Hey Carrie!” Said David to the two giggling women. “What’s up?” Carrie stopped her spell of laughter. “ Hi Dave! This is my friend S.J. who works over at Silver Town.” He shook hands with her. S.J. didn’t seem to be shaking back. She just walked away. David felt the urge to say ‘What’s with her?’ but he resisted. “How everything going Carrie?” He said. Carrie shrugged. “Fine, I guess.” She said. “ I’m so bored though!” David nodded. “Know the feeling.” He said dryly. “That S.J. lady you were talking to looked oddly familiar.” Carrie laughed. “I told you, she works at Silver Town!” She said. “She’s a waitress.” David nodded. “Let me think.” He said. “Oh yeah! I remember...” A tap on his shoulder cut him off. He turned around to see Derek Georgeton, a man from Station One, behind him. “What is it?” Said David. Derek looked saddened, and yet not so. “Come with me.” Carrie looked confused. “Why?” She said. “What’s going on?” “Nothing.” Said Derek. Carrie insisted. “No!” She said. “What is it?” Derek gave in. “Come in here Miss Moss.” He signaled them to the room in the corner. They all went in. When they were all in, Derek became even more serious. “The California School of Hematology has been bombed.” He said. David gasped. That was the university Hector worked at part-time. “All people that were inside the building have been accounted for, except Dr. Hector J. Stone. I believe you know him, Ronalds?” David nodded silently. He was still wide-eyed and rigid. Derek continued. “506 survivors and 304 dead have been recovered. Hector was last spotted on the third floor. Only men and women from the bottom and first floors lived.” David was so still that one would think he was made out of stone. Derek sighed in a way that sounded like he was forcing it. “He is most likely dead, Ronalds.” He said. David’s whole world came crashing to a halt. Hector was one of his best friends. It was bad enough that he had moved to the California. The only reason he was transferred there was because he was half Watson, and Robert Watson (after he moved to the US from his home in England,) was the founder of the university. David was almost deaf to all voices, as his head seemed to be bursting loudly with noise, noise of confusion and distress. He was too shocked to even cry. His eyes were still as dry as the hottest desert. ‘What is going on?’







CHAPTER TWO
ORIGINS


December 25TH 1996-
Hector Stone sat at his desk, his mind dazed, his eyes looking at a place that was no where to be seen. He was thinking of his past. He heard a voice:
“Hector!” Called the voice. It was his Mother. “Hector!” A twelve-year-old boy came running to the door of the small Indiana farm. It Hector when he was but a boy. He was the second child of Lisa and Robert Stone. He ran into the house knowing what he was going to find smoking on their table. It was a large plump Thanksgiving turkey. Perfectly shaped and basted. Hector ran to get a taste of it. Hector was the more curious of the two children. He had an older sister, Kelsey. They never got along well at all, he always wanted to explore and she always wanted to cook and make things. They both performed well in school and both made their parents proud. Thanksgiving was the most popular holiday in their household, unlike their friends from school, who preferred Christmas. Not this one I bet! Thought Hector as he dreamt. Hector had loved the wonderful food his mother made every year, and the amazing fruit juices his father squeezed freshly every year. It was perfect. Hector thought of how he had convinced his parents to send him to Mark Franks High when he was fifteen years of age. He met his best friend, Tony Ronalds, there. His full name was David Anthony Ronalds but he took his middle name and shortened it for a nickname. Hector grew to have many friends in his lifetime, but none were as good as David. He was the best fencer in the entire school, and won many trophies. He was also a straight-A student. In 1980 Hector graduated and so did David the following year. They were going their separate ways when David suggested he come over and visit him before he set out to find a career. Hector agreed. He came up the driveway in his Ford Pick-Up truck with the usual smile on his face. “How is it going Tony?” He said. He got out of his truck and unloaded two trophies. “I’ll get the other ones later.” Said David. “They are just too dang heavy! I’ll need a break!” Hector came inside and sat down. “How is your new job at Hilldale Mall going?” Asked Hector. David sighed. “Alright.” He said. “I have to spy on some deli-meat stealer from Fort Wayne! It’s ridiculous!” Hector could see that David was not happy with his current job as a petty thief catcher at the BPD. A few years prior, some workers at the BPD had formed a sort of union so that there could be independent Stations for their own beliefs in crime fighting. Thus the first two independent stations were born. Unlike the other stations they referred to themselves as “Station” and then their number, while the rest were named by the order of which they were created, like “The 13th Prescient”. David worked at Station One, he had always expressed no interest what so ever of going to Station Two. Even so, he had almost no satisfaction at S1. There had been some rumors about the possibility of founding a third Station, but they had been going around for a couple of years. David let out another long sigh. “Life stinks some times!” He said. “I would give anything for another station to be founded! Nothing is going to happen any time soon though. I may just go to a standard station just to get some action.” Hector nodded. “I have to go.” He said. “Keep in touch Tony!” With that he left. They did not keep in touch though. A few days after Hector departed, David caught the infamous ‘Meat-Stuffer’ and in the process rescued a Security guard by the name of Trev Smith from him. After the “Meat-Stuffer” had caused so much trouble, the BPD’s leaders decided to found Station Three, so that people like David could better describe their wishes. Hector watched this amazing moment on the news, and through the whole newscast he thought of David. He tried to call him but he had moved. He started to try and track him down. After about two years of no luck he decided to give up. A year later, he and his sister got in a fight about what career he should pursue. They became estranged. His grades at college began to go down and he dropped out. Another year later he went to Indiana University and got a degree in hematology. Hector eventually became a teacher at IU, and taught about 500 students per year. In 1995 he reunited with David on the “Killer, Killer” case. In the end of the following year, Hector was transferred to The California School of Hematology. He was sent there because his great-grandfather founded the school when he moved to the US from England. For the most part, Hector was bored at CSH. Gronic must have it in for me! He thought as he sat alone in his office, throwing pencils at the ceiling. His job was to use his skills in the field of blood detection in murder cases and drug dealings. His cases, like David’s all the way in Indiana, were so incredibly easy to solve that it was almost laughable. He sighed on as he thought of his case with a man who’s son used his bloodstained Marijuana pipe for Show & Tell at school, or the idiot who tried to use stain-remover to cover up his bloody fingerprints. He was in such deep thought that he almost missed the Telephone ringing. He scrambled to pick it up as he threw himself out of his daydream. “Hello, Dr. Stone speaking.” He said. “Yes. Yep. Uh Huh. Okay! Bye.” He hung up his phone and smiled. Finally a good case! A man had broken into a house and some how left no trace on himself, except a sample of his blood. Just the right case for an educated hematologist such as himself! At that moment his boss, Steven Gronic, came into his office. “Stone!” He said. “You can’t be on this case.” Hector’s smile turned into a frown. “Why not?” He said. “What is wrong with it? I’m perfect for this job!” Steve nodded. “I know.” He said. Hector couldn’t tell if he was being sympathetic or just stating a fact, but was pretty sure it was the latter. “This case...is just not for you. That’s all.” Hector was outraged. “I am not going to go on like this!” He said. “Solving cases of kids with nosebleeds that were slapped by bullies! I want some respect for ounce!” Steven frowned. “Just because your beloved great-grandfather founded this place, does not mean that you are going to go around running it!” He said. “I’m the boss! Not you, Dr. Stone! If you don’t like it, then quit! Quit and let all your students, who love and respect you, down!” Hector was so red that you would have thought he was bleeding. “Don’t try to make me the bad guy here, Gronic!” He yelled. “There is no reason I should not work on this case! I don’t care if you push a giant guilt-trip on me for the next month and a half! I want that case!” Steve picked up a box full of papers and threw it at Hector in a fit of rage. “FINE!” He said. “Take your precious case you no good fool!” He stormed out of the room. “Merry Christmas to you too!” Said Hector. He wanted to be back in Indiana so bad that he could have screamed. It wasn’t the fact that he didn’t like living in California; it was because he didn’t like working there. He missed David, Trevor, Cedric and Carrie. He would have paid a thousand dollars just to work at an area McDonalds. At least he got his case. Gronic had been acting really odd lately. ‘Why doesn’t he want me to be on this case?’ Thought Hector. It didn’t make any sense at all. But Hector had the case now, and that was something worth celebrating in his book! My book! He thought. Now there is an idea!





CHAPTER THREE
CONCLUSIONS


MARCH 26TH 1997-
David sat there, dazed by his own ears, in his small office at Station Three. He was waiting for Carrie, Trevor and Cedric to arrive. The three of them were then to be escorted to Station Two. David, who usually shivered to think about going to Station Two, was now shivering over more important matters. New evidence in the case of Hector’s disappearance and possible death was going to be shown at the meeting. He has to be alive! Thought David. He just has to be! David was having a hard time believing himself though. He tried and tried and tried, but he could not succeed in convincing himself that Hector was all right. It was just completely against all the odds. He heard fast footsteps approaching the office. He turned to see that Carrie was in the room, flanked by Trevor and Cedric. “Any new developments in the case with Hec?” Asked Trevor, in a very worried tone. David sighed. “I don’t know yet.” He said, at length. “We are going to be escorted to Station Two by Derek. They are going to present new evidence in the case that they found on some other missing guy’s computer memory. Rumor has it, that this is some pretty reliable stuff, but I don’t really know.” Cedric nodded, sadly. “This really hits close to home.” He said, with his head facing the dried bubblegum covered office floor. “Now I see how you guys felt on case 2837012, you know, the ‘Vampire’ case?” David nodded with a shudder. He was obviously not comforted by images of that gruesome case going back into his mind. But all the sudden they came up: Hunri Wung, Sean Cook, Bob Dickson...all with their blood forcefully drained from their bodies. That case made David never dare to watch another horror film for the rest of his life. Cedric saw what he had done to David and decided to change the subject. “I bet Ol’ Hec’s fine!” He said, trying to encourage David. It didn’t work one bit. Cedric sighed. The situation seemed nothing short of hopeless. David was deeply depressed, and the rest felt only a thread short of what David was feeling. What did happen to Hector? Nobody seemed to be able to answer that vital question. Derek came into the doorway. “The car is waiting outside.” He said. “A Mr. Pattison will be driving, you will be taken to Station tw...” “Station Two of the BPD!” Said David, angrily. “We know! Let’s just hurry up and get there so we can find out what happened to Hector!” Derek nodded. He was not to be annoyed by ‘No-Nonsense’ types, such as Derek, trying to make this seem like a trip the doctor’s office. David and Derek had never got along very well. They weren’t rivals, nor did they hate each other. They were just two separate people who felt as though they would die if they were in the same room together for thirty seconds. A woman tapped Derek on the shoulder. David glanced at her. Derek rolled his eyes. “Oh, sorry!” He said to David and Trevor. “This is Ella Begri, my personal assistant, she attends meetings and such in my place.” She shook their hands. “Hey.” Said Ella. She then proceeded to whisper something into Derek’s ear. He nodded a couple of times. “I have to go.” He said. “Ella is going to stay with you and supervise the trip to S2. Bye.” He left. Ella smiled and sat down with the rest of them. She had long brown hair, tied back in a ponytail and wore an Old Navy sweater. Trevor looked back and forth between her and Carrie. There was a subtle resemblance between them. Trevor couldn’t help it. “Are you two related?” He said. They both said in unison: “Who? Us?” They laughed. “Personal jinx!” Said Carrie. “Yeah, we are cousins.” David was confused. ‘Then why do you have different last names?” He said. Carrie rolled her eyes. “She’s my Mom’s sister’s daughter,” She said. “And I am sick of having to explain that to everybody!” Trevor was only mildly surprised by the whole thing. They weren’t identical, but you could definitely see the resemblance. David smiled for the first time in days. “Tell me about yourself Ella.” He said. “What’s your background?” Ella looked slightly embarrassed. Carrie smiled. “She doesn’t like talking about herself much.” She said. Ella opened her mouth in the shape of an O, in shock. “What are you talking about?” She said. “That’s a lie! I don’t care. You kiss your Momma with that mouth?” Carrie blushed in a manner that almost resembled that of pride. “It’s true!” She said. “I mean...Oh just change the subject!” Trevor sighed. Best idea she has ever had! He thought. Ella sighed. “As I was about to answer...” She said, watching Carrie out of the corner of her eye. “I went to Pius II Jesuit in high-school and graduated. I went to IU in college and considered being a poet, but decided to do something else instead. Here I am! I work, as Derek’s assistant until I finish training at the academy to be a detective. I want to go into poetry some day too. So cross your fingers!” Carrie made a loud, false cough that sounded an awful lot like ‘Retard’; Ella in return coughed ‘Ditto’. Carrie then turned over to Trevor again. “She’s been held back a year at the academy that she’s at.” She said. Ella blushed. “It’s no big deal!” She said. ‘I am just a little...afraid to shoot the cardboard cut-outs.” Carrie burst out laughing. Ella frowned. “It’s not funny!” She said. “When I was about twelve, I saw a man get killed in a gas station, he was shot by a robber. That is what made me want to be a cop in the first place. But I have never hit my targets, because when I look at the cutouts, I see that man in them. I always turn the gun away from it, and miss.” She sighed. David decided it was time to change the subject again. “So...” He said. “Did you hear about the ‘Inter-Station Basketball Tournament’?” Ella looked like she was holding back a laugh. Cedric was puzzled. “What’s so funny?” He said. Ella shook her head. “Did you hear what the Narcotics Department’s team-name is?” She said. All of then shook their heads, curiously. “What is it?” Asked Carrie. Ella giggled. “‘The Weed Whackers’.” She said. They all laughed. Cedric nearly chocked. “Are you serious?” Ella nodded. She was obviously holding her laughs back, you could tell because she looked like she was using all the muscles in her face. Carrie looked at her. “No offense,” She said. “But that’s kinda dumb, El.” Ella frowned. “Whatever!” She said. “I though it was cute!” “Yeah right!” Said Carrie. What a fun conversation this is! Thought David. Fun? Oh no! They were supposed to be at the car by now! They were late! He jumped to his feet. “Come on!” He said. “Lets get out to the car! Bob’s waiting!” He was half right. They rushed out the front door. The car was just leaving. “STOP!” They all screamed at ounce. But Mr. Pattison had headphones on and wasn’t paying attention at all. He sped away. Carrie cursed loudly. Ella was about to say something but decided to save her breath for later. Carrie’s face lit up. “Come on!” She shouted. “In my Jeep!” They all hopped into her Silver Jeep Wrangler. She sped away so fast that... “Carrie! I lost my hat!” They were there in no time at all. They all ran inside as fast as their feet kicked up the bright brown dirt. As they approached the doorway of the Conference Room they all slowed their pace and made them-selves look highly respectable. Ella went in first. “Sorry we’re late sir.” She said to Garry Knorr, the head of Station Two. Garry rolled his eyes and mouthed: “S3’ers.” Garry stood up and raised his voice so that it sounded impressive. “Ladies and gentlemen of Stations one, two, and three of the BPD...” He began. “...We have gathered here to present evidence in a case that was insisted upon by the...er...unique minds contained in the heads the of women and men at Station Three. The man of whom we are trying to find is Dr. Hector Jacob Stone, a noted hematologist who has worked to solve two very hard cases for the BPD, as well as to keep S2 and S3 separate, which we all certainly appreciate.” David noted his sarcastic tone. Garry continued. “Present at this meeting are: Alan Gregory, Trevor Smith, Carrie Moss, Joe Webb, Robert Pattison, Joseph Strouse, David Ronalds, Derek Georgeton...” Ella cleared her throat. “Yes?” Said Garry. Ella stood up. “Mr. Georgeton was unable to come today.” She said. “I am in his place.”
Garry nodded. “You are Miss Beejree?” He said harshly. Ella frowned. “Begri.” She corrected. Garry nodded again. “You may sit.” She did so. Garry cleared his throat yet again. “Miss Carrie Batille Moss, would you stand please?” Carrie did so. “Yes sir?” She said in a mock respective voice. Garry cleared his throat. “How did you know Dr. Stone?” He asked her. Carrie cleared her throat as well. “I met him while working in case 2836605 near Silver Town Bar &Grill.” She said. “He was working there to compare blood samples contained on footprints leading to a lake near the noted restaurant...” “We are NOT here to advertise a 4 Star restaurant Ms. Moss!” Shouted Garry. Carrie was very shocked by this big deal over a six-syllable phrase. “5-star, Sir.” She corrected. Her sense of humor was not going to well with the S2 leader. “Enough!” Yelled Garry. “Why are you doing this?” Carrie said nothing. “I believe a friend of yours, S.J. Rolyate, works at Silver Town, does she not?” Carrie remained silent. “I will not allow speaking for personal gain, or at least not the way you present it, Ms. Moss!” Barked Garry. “You are dismissed from this meeting! GO!” David stood up. “This is a meeting for a police network, not a trial!” He said. “Let her finish! You are just upset because she used to want to come here and now she doesn’t!” Garry’s face was on fire at this moment. “FINE!” He said. “Finish your stupid story!” Carrie took a deep sigh and continued her speech on how she knew Hector. Garry looked so upset half the time that you could see his veins, bulging from his almost invisible neck. As Carrie finished, Garry stood up again. “Will Miss Ella Lilly Begri stand please?” He said. She did so. Garry nodded again. “You have a statement from Mr. Georgeton?” He said. She nodded. “Yes I do but...” “But what?” Garry snarled. Ella looked very taken aback. “I disagree with my bosses statements.” She said. “He displays no hope that Dr. Stone may yet be alive.” Garry rolled his eyes. “And you believe that he is?” He growled. Ella frowned. “I believe he may be.” She said firmly. “I believe in hope above quitting, and I believe in never giving up until defeated, Mr. Knorr.” Garry’s upper lip curled. “Read Mr. Georgeton’s statement Ms. Begri!” He said. She shook her head. “I refuse to read or promote what is so strongly against my own beliefs.” She said. “If you want to read it, here it is.” She slammed the paper onto the table and slid it down to Gary’s seat, and then sat back down. Garry looked like a bomb about to go off. “Thank you Ms. Bugry.” He said. Ella looked at him. “BEGRI!” Garry threw her a patronizing smile. “Sorry.” He said. He cleared his throat and read the statement.

It is my view that Mr. Stone was killed in the bombing. It appears that a person who the Watson family owed money to caused the bombing. It is stupid to continue this investigation. It is unfair to our dedicated police force to look for the mouse in the cat droppings, as the saying goes. I propose that a funeral service be held in the next few weeks.

 

 

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Copyright © 2004 Patrick Collins
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