"Six-three Sergeant, ESU is requesting your presence at 113 Fifth Avenue. A hostage situation, possible shots fired... The suspect is requesting your presence."
I had sent The Marine to go get our RMP as it was still running with lights and sirens half a mile down the tracks. I waited for him with Maxine. She was bent over behind her RMP, vomiting again – the third time since the chase ended. I was starting to get worried. Marcello kept giving her water and a towel after every episode. He'd become her brother. I liked him. He would protect her.
Still on her knees, with her head down, she finished throwing up and pointed at me. "I'm coming with you," she said as she wiped her mouth and stood up to stretch. I kissed her on the forehead and shook my head. I saw The Marine pull up in our RMP, get out and go to the passenger side. He s
Sunday, February 2The phone rang, waking me from a dead sleep. I was having a nightmare,could hear voices through the handset.Blackhawk Actual, Blackhawk Actual, this is Lost Boy 6-1."Kelly... wake up. It's okay."I was in a fog,but I knew the voice. It was her voice.How could I be two places at once?Approximately two-and-a-half clicks from our objective... Break. Requesting permission to engage, how copy."Sweetie, you're home, in your bed, with me... Wake up... You're fine, you're safe."The recei
PROLOGUE She came through the door, dropping her bag and rushing into my arms. As soon as we touched, she began to cry. Trembling, she held me tight. Her head pressed firmly against my shoulder. Shushing her quickly, with gentleness, I took her to the couch and held her, caressing her hair, cheek. "Bad day, huh?" I was off for the first time in two weeks, Maxine taking my spot-on watch. "I'm okay… I just don't understand." She began to weep again, wiping her tears. I knew I didn't have to say anything, prod her in any way. I just had to let her know I was here.
CHAPTER 4Himiko18:30 HoursIt had already been a long, tedious shift. So far, the only excitement was with the vagrant and urine, Maxine's paranoia, and Keegs’ drunkenness. Since they were both settled, we were back to boredom, at least for now.The deep November chill had set in. The window defogger had become our only heat source because the RMP vents didn’t work.Though we hadn't reached Thanksgiving, the Christmas season was showing. So much of the town already bore the lights and cheer that it brought. Though Christmas was my favorite time of year, it was coming way too soon.Maxine was quiet. She mostly stared out of the window and bit her nails, a habit she had since before I knew her."Central to any unit near Potter Church."The radio broke Maxine from her trance."Not tonight, Kelly. Please
To The Reader, This novel was inspired by my life's experience as a Policeman in two separate towns,Seaside HeightsandSpring Lake Heights Police Departments,NJ. Likewise, growing up in a town that was steeped in witchcraft, I gained a great deal of knowledge into the occult which served me well in Police Work. I combined these experiences to create this story, which is partly based on true events. William Kelly, a former Combat Marine, and a Corporal at the six-three precinct of the Heights Police has his world turned upside down when he answers a radio call of a multiple homicide at the East Coast Green Herbal Shop. The "Heights," well known for its persecution and execution of witches for almost four centu
And now Nineteen persons having beenhang'd, and oneprestto death, and Eight more condemned, in all Twenty and Eight, of which above a third part were Members of some of the Churches of N. England, and more than half of them of a good Conversation in general, and not oneclear'd; about Fifty havingconfestthemselves to be Witches, of which not one Executed; above an Hundred and Fifty in Prison, and Two Hundred more accused; the SpecialCommisionof Oyer and Terminer comes to a period. -RobertCalef1692 CHAPTER 1 Oyer and Terminer 18:40 Hours "Central to all units. R
In 1650, they ratified the town charter for “Heights of King James County.” This meant that the formed town must submit to the County Governor, Deputy Governor, and Magistrate. These men and three Puritan Reverends were known as the County Commission. Because they formed King James County under the 1629 Royal Charter of the King James Colony, the settlers of the heights had little to say who could live in their town. The Commission intended to allow a slow but steady influx of Irish, Scottish, and Dutch immigrants to help the fledgling village. However, the Commission was strict Puritans who escaped the Royal Anglican Government in England. They hand-picked twenty Calvinist families to oversee the Heights in leadership and religion. The choice of well-off Puritan families inspired a Puritanism World View. Birthdays and holidays were considered pagan rituals. The Bible was the only textbook found. The only
"Central from Six-three David, we're out on Central and Bridge moving vagrant." "Central copy, Six-three David... 16:40 hours, Twenty - November." Maxine and I got out of the RMP and walked towards the homeless guy, lying against the welcome sign. That sign had been there for as long as I could remember. It was ancient, worn, and weathered. It's once vibrant green had oxidized to a lifeless pale blue. It's once bronze letters were chipped, cracked, and rusted. Its post was tall, thick, and very plain capped with the cross of Saint James. It simply read: PROSPERITY AND ABUNDANCE WELCOME TO THE HEIGHTS ORIGINALLY
18:53 Hours "Central to Six-Three David, what's your status?" "Central, call the groundskeeper and ask if anyone's supposed to be in the church." "Six-three Corporal groundskeeper started the call." I started walking towards the east window. I saw the flicker again. I rationalized that it was just the streetlight reflecting off the glass. Yet, as I approached, I heard an indistinct murmur coming from inside the church. I reached for my collar mic and pressed the PTT, and whispered. "Six–three Corporal to central. I have trespassers in the building. I need a backing unit. Come in from the east side.” After my broadcast, I reached down to my left hip. My hand bent at my wrist as my fingers found the