Contributor: Gary Clifton
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Fire Department found a fat guy dead in the frame house and heavy gasoline residue. Homicide sent Red Harper and Chris Jonic, both old timers.
"Girls, 10 and 13 survived," the fire captain said grimly "Transported to Parkland...badly burned."
Bleary-eyed neighbors reported the dead guy was the girls' uncle and one sorry bastard. "Two arrests...indecent exposure...once for fondling," Harper flash-lighted his notebook.
"Guy told me uncle was sexually abusing both girls. Told a kid who told a kid type deal," Jonic said.
"Where the hell was CPS?" Harper growled.
At Parkland - Menthol bandages and oxygen - both girls burned beyond recognition. Felecia, 13, terrified, in pain, was lost in sobs. "Neighbors said you got out, then went back to get your sister," Harper said gently.
She dissolved into hysteria. "Maria?" .
"She'll be ok," Jonic considered the weight of such a lie in Hell. They'd both be dead tomorrow.
Harper caught his eye. Instantly, they both saw...she'd set the fire from outside to save her sister from him.
"We understand, Felicia, you thought you could get Maria out." More sobs.
Outside, Harper relit his cigar. "I'll write this...no suspects."
"That's the way I see it." Jonic said.
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Gary Clifton, forty years a cop, has over forty short fiction pieces published or pending with on line sites. He's been shot at, shot, stabbed, sued, lied to, and often misunderstood.
- -
Fire Department found a fat guy dead in the frame house and heavy gasoline residue. Homicide sent Red Harper and Chris Jonic, both old timers.
"Girls, 10 and 13 survived," the fire captain said grimly "Transported to Parkland...badly burned."
Bleary-eyed neighbors reported the dead guy was the girls' uncle and one sorry bastard. "Two arrests...indecent exposure...once for fondling," Harper flash-lighted his notebook.
"Guy told me uncle was sexually abusing both girls. Told a kid who told a kid type deal," Jonic said.
"Where the hell was CPS?" Harper growled.
At Parkland - Menthol bandages and oxygen - both girls burned beyond recognition. Felecia, 13, terrified, in pain, was lost in sobs. "Neighbors said you got out, then went back to get your sister," Harper said gently.
She dissolved into hysteria. "Maria?" .
"She'll be ok," Jonic considered the weight of such a lie in Hell. They'd both be dead tomorrow.
Harper caught his eye. Instantly, they both saw...she'd set the fire from outside to save her sister from him.
"We understand, Felicia, you thought you could get Maria out." More sobs.
Outside, Harper relit his cigar. "I'll write this...no suspects."
"That's the way I see it." Jonic said.
- - -
Gary Clifton, forty years a cop, has over forty short fiction pieces published or pending with on line sites. He's been shot at, shot, stabbed, sued, lied to, and often misunderstood.
Author:
Gary Clifton
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