MANX Enterprises, Ltd.
Ò
© 2018 MANX Enterprises, Ltd.
What
was
once
a
house
in
Seattle
Washington
was
now
charred
ruins.
Its
embers
glowed
deep
red
in
the
darkness
of
an
early
dawn,
their
hue
reflecting
off
scattered
puddles
of
hydrant
water.
Fragments
of
blackened
wood
and
twisted
metal
lay
haphazardly
about
the
desolate
scene.
The
fire
engines
were
already
moving
off,
their
occupants
looking
forward
to
hot
coffee
and
donuts
to
extinguish
the
memory
of
such
a
horrible
sight.
In
the
distance, the sound of another approaching vehicle could be heard.
A
man
stood
amidst
the
remnants.
He
was
of
medium
height,
thin
with
a
compact
muscular
body.
His
pressed
white
shirt
was
open
at
the
neck
while
black
pin
striped
pants
hung
straight
into
perfect
creases.
His
usually
glistening
black
shoes
were
coated
with
a
thin
layer
of
ash.
The
dawn
light
glanced
off
straight
white
hair
that
dangled
over
his
sallow
gaunt face. Thin lips parted into a thin smile that bristled with crowded yellow teeth.
‘Success!’
At
his
feet
lay
the
charred
remains
of
a
body,
its
flesh
burnt
to
nothing,
its
contracted
sinews twisting the arms and legs tight against the torso.
‘Just one more thing to do.’
He
walked
towards
what
remained
of
the
back
door
and
dropped
a
fragment
of
skin
and
fingernail out of a small plastic bag.
‘That
will
be
enough
to
assure
the
identification
of
my
victim.
The
General
will
be
pleased.
Just
one
more
step
towards
the
completion
of
our
plans
for
these
annoying
people
and
their
worthless
existence
on
such
a
valuable
piece
of
real
estate.
They
shouldn’t
have
it.
Must
be eliminated before they meet their match and became a real threat.’
The
gaunt
man
moved
out
to
the
front
yard
as
the
medical
examiner's
van
pulled
up.
He
waited
expectantly,
his
official
badge
nestled
in
the
palm
of
his
hand.
Two
men
in
dark
blue
jumpsuits
climbed
out.
One
moved
to
the
back
of
the
van
and
began
to
open
its
doors.
The
other, an older gentleman, ambled up.
“Hello. I’m Dr. Odom the Medical Examiner. Who are you?”
The
man
smiled
slightly
and
flashed
his
badge.
“Ah
have
been
called
in
to
run
this
here
investigation.”
The
Medical
Examiner
looked
him
over
and
shook
his
head
slowly.
“I
got
a
call
from
the
police to come. Where are they?”
“Ah
called.
This
person
is
one
of
ours
and
Ah’m
act’n
as
liaison
between
mah
regional
office and your all police.”
The Medical Examiner paused briefly, taken aback.
“What
was
your
name?
I
didn’t
get
it
the
first
time.
And
no
one
called
me
about
any
liaison.”
“Name’s
John
Smith.
Ah’m
stationed
at
our
regional
office.
And
mah
take
on
all
this
is
accident.”