Read Online Blood Harvest by Michael Weinberger - Free Book Online
Authors: Michael Weinberger
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tracks.
“You knew him officially or unofficially?” the Captain asked with a seriousness that might have turned anyone to stone who was unfamiliar with his intensity.
“Officially,” Steve grunted his reply while returning an indignant glare back at his superior. The response was, perhaps, a bit too aggressive; however, Steve knew his record while on the force was beyond reproach. The Captain knew it as well, which was probably the reason the insubordinate tone was overlooked as the Captain released his arm.
“Of course.” The Captain actually looked abashed. “Of course, it was official. Look who I’m talking to, after all.”
Anxious to change the subject Steve postulated, “It may be a stupid question, but does this have to be something sinister? I mean, could this have been an accident, like a broken gas pipe or something?”
“No. Gas, carbon monoxide or toxic fumes have other symptoms, manifestations and ultimately end in death. This bizarre comatose catatonia, or whatever, is just plain weird.”
The two stood in place and watched as paramedics from all over the city examined the sea of humanity noting each victim’s health status and identification. It was all so repetitive that Steve began to feel overwhelmed.
Finally, his head seemed to crest the pinnacle of the scene and fell squarely into detective mode.
“Why isn’t anyone being taken to the hospital?”
“Rule number one in federal containment: ‘Don’t spread the contamination beyond the hot zone.’ The feds say they’re shipping doctors and equipment here and instructed us to set up triage for when the docs arrive.
Steve nodded. It would have been a sound strategy if it were some sort of biological outbreak or attack. Steve felt almost certain that it wasn’t.
“All right, let’s say this was a deliberate act. What is the motive? Why would anyone do this?”
The Captain’s face turned instantly from melancholy to a challenging grin as he slid comfortably into a professorial mode Steve knew very well.
“What reason can you think of Detective?”
This was a type of game they played. Actually, it was a very effective way of sorting through mountains of information in order to come up with working theories, but the two of them had turned it into an exercise long ago. Steve closed his eyes and took in a deep breath of foul air. His mind raced through the possibilities, motives, rationales, until finally he found what he felt to be the most likely answers.
“Terrorism, revenge, or ransom; I believe the most likely of the three would be ransom.”
“Ransom??!” Apparently the Captain hadn’t thought of that one. He had nodded along with the first two suggestions and looked eager for an explanation regarding the third.
“Terrorists would have a new way to affect the well-being of huge groups of people. This technique would eliminate the need for primitive car bombings; however, where there is life there is hope. Terrorist goals involve the taking away of hope to replace it with fear. The otherwise apparent well-being of the victims makes this an ineffective vehicle for terrorists.”
The Captain nodded absently with the explanation.
Steve continued, “Revenge kind of makes sense except the act is too general with too many unrelated people involved.”
“What about revenge against the club or its owners?” The Captain interjected.
Steve could tell the Captain was testing him.
“A direct shot at the club through arson or demolition could have been accomplished when the club was empty, thereby, not endangering such a large number of people. This wasn’t an attack against the revenue production of the owners. This was an attack directly on the people who work and frequent the club. In fact, I get the impression that the person or persons responsible for this wanted the club intact, maybe to move in and pick up the pieces now that the owners are incapacitated.”
“As in a hostile takeover of a sort?” the Captain
“You knew him officially or unofficially?” the Captain asked with a seriousness that might have turned anyone to stone who was unfamiliar with his intensity.
“Officially,” Steve grunted his reply while returning an indignant glare back at his superior. The response was, perhaps, a bit too aggressive; however, Steve knew his record while on the force was beyond reproach. The Captain knew it as well, which was probably the reason the insubordinate tone was overlooked as the Captain released his arm.
“Of course.” The Captain actually looked abashed. “Of course, it was official. Look who I’m talking to, after all.”
Anxious to change the subject Steve postulated, “It may be a stupid question, but does this have to be something sinister? I mean, could this have been an accident, like a broken gas pipe or something?”
“No. Gas, carbon monoxide or toxic fumes have other symptoms, manifestations and ultimately end in death. This bizarre comatose catatonia, or whatever, is just plain weird.”
The two stood in place and watched as paramedics from all over the city examined the sea of humanity noting each victim’s health status and identification. It was all so repetitive that Steve began to feel overwhelmed.
Finally, his head seemed to crest the pinnacle of the scene and fell squarely into detective mode.
“Why isn’t anyone being taken to the hospital?”
“Rule number one in federal containment: ‘Don’t spread the contamination beyond the hot zone.’ The feds say they’re shipping doctors and equipment here and instructed us to set up triage for when the docs arrive.
Steve nodded. It would have been a sound strategy if it were some sort of biological outbreak or attack. Steve felt almost certain that it wasn’t.
“All right, let’s say this was a deliberate act. What is the motive? Why would anyone do this?”
The Captain’s face turned instantly from melancholy to a challenging grin as he slid comfortably into a professorial mode Steve knew very well.
“What reason can you think of Detective?”
This was a type of game they played. Actually, it was a very effective way of sorting through mountains of information in order to come up with working theories, but the two of them had turned it into an exercise long ago. Steve closed his eyes and took in a deep breath of foul air. His mind raced through the possibilities, motives, rationales, until finally he found what he felt to be the most likely answers.
“Terrorism, revenge, or ransom; I believe the most likely of the three would be ransom.”
“Ransom??!” Apparently the Captain hadn’t thought of that one. He had nodded along with the first two suggestions and looked eager for an explanation regarding the third.
“Terrorists would have a new way to affect the well-being of huge groups of people. This technique would eliminate the need for primitive car bombings; however, where there is life there is hope. Terrorist goals involve the taking away of hope to replace it with fear. The otherwise apparent well-being of the victims makes this an ineffective vehicle for terrorists.”
The Captain nodded absently with the explanation.
Steve continued, “Revenge kind of makes sense except the act is too general with too many unrelated people involved.”
“What about revenge against the club or its owners?” The Captain interjected.
Steve could tell the Captain was testing him.
“A direct shot at the club through arson or demolition could have been accomplished when the club was empty, thereby, not endangering such a large number of people. This wasn’t an attack against the revenue production of the owners. This was an attack directly on the people who work and frequent the club. In fact, I get the impression that the person or persons responsible for this wanted the club intact, maybe to move in and pick up the pieces now that the owners are incapacitated.”
“As in a hostile takeover of a sort?” the Captain
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