Murder By Rails, Emma M Vardaman [free e reader .TXT] 📗

Murder By Rails

Chapter One

Conductor Carlton Khamisi stretched and yawned, groggily, in his hotel bed as the clock struck three AM. Crunch time. He quickly made his way into the lavatory on bare lion pads, for an equally brisk shower and jumped hurriedly into his usual yellow vest and work outfit. It was nearly time for his train to pull off back for his Sunshine home. He reached sanguinely into his vest.

The decent wallet sized photo of he and his lovely lioness, Clara, was still just as vibrant and comforting as ever, as he stared welcomingly into her calm, icy blue orbs. He kissed it softly and soon stuffed it softly back into his jeans.

It had been so long since he and his mate had ever had their first honeymoon or family get together, but, now the railroad had finally given him a much needed break, and it was now time for that one and only possibility to become a full and absolute given

Chapter Two

“No! Stay with me, Clara!” He desperately hollered over the howling wolf siren of the ambulance. She was bleeding. Severely. He turned his head away, briskly, to the rear entrance window. He didn’t at all want her or the medics surrounding her to see him shed any tears. Show even the slightest bit of true lion emotion. He knew through anything; whatever the matter, he had to be strong.

After what seemed like damn near a full on eternity, they finally arrived at Leohart General Hospital, over on the further South side of town. His stomach churned as he sat down on the waiting room couch. Tears once again threatned to spring to the corners of his eyes as images of the crash soon flashed like a movie reel across his racing mind.

The doctor finally appeared steadily down the hall, and he sprang quickly to his feet to pop the one and only main question on his brain.

“How is she?”

The gray wolf sighed rather sadly, staring down at the curling tips of his aging loafers as he delivered the lion the most painful and dreaded news of his young twenty one year old life.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Khamisi, but, your wife...There was nothing more we could do to save her. I’m sorry.”

Chapter Three

Carlton stared more than endlessly out the curtains of his home bedroom window. Somewhere, deep in his heavy lion heart, he could feel his wife’s essence calling, begging, pleading out to him. Desperately asking him to give more than his all in finding out the whole and honest truth. The “accident” all seemed more than a strange enigma to him.

One minute, all was well on the way back to his home terminal of North Hiyalia Yard, and then suddenly, all hell finally breaks full loose. He remembered each and every painful bit. The sights of his wife’s horrifically maimed and grotesque body, as the medics gave their full and all to pull her from what now remained of his Porsche. The sickening iron smell of blood as he damn near fought to keep his composure by her side. He dreaded it all.

He felt his stomach tie into about a million knots as he silently plopped down on his bed and softly began to cry himself to sleep.

Chapter Four

Detective Jackie Summerset checked early into her 32nd Precinct office, sighing heavily as she looked over the grim details of the fellow lion’s case report on her desk. She felt severely sorry for Carlton’s loss. Having currently being eight months pregnant with her very first cub, she could almost somewhat relate to the significant grief and pain he felt; due to the passing of her own lion, just three weeks ago in a drunk driving incident.

She kissed the framed sized photo of she and him, silently, trying ever so hard not to tear up as she rather quickly began to compose herself and grab her cruiser keys for a brief visit over to Carlton’s home residence.

Chapter Five

Fresh out of the shower, Carlton padded glumly down the venerable spiral staircase of he and his wife’s homely Victorian style cottage. He slowly unlocked the front door, and to his full and utter shock and surprise, his now twenty four year old police detective cousin now stood more than boldly before him.

“Um, hey, Carlton.” The lioness rather shyly greeted him, throwing her paws comfortingly around him in a sisterly like hug. “Do you remember me?”

“Jackie! Damn, it’s been entirely so long! Where the hell have you been, flower girl?”

He briefly motioned down to the bulge in her stomach.

“And gotten a busy, haven’t we?” He chuckled, slyly. “How many weeks ahead are you?”

“About a good thirty or so now.” She replied slowly, with a saddened sigh. “And she’s definitely getting big. It’s just a damn shame her good old papa isn’t here right now to share the moment...Or her auntie either.”

“Yeah...” Carlton sighed, sadly in return. “I know exactly what you mean.”

Chapter Six

“What? Foul play? It can’t be.”

Jackie sadly nodded. “I really wish I could suddenly give you one hell of a different answer.” She sighed. “But, I do believe that is exactly the full and main part of the reason of why I’m here. We found a coil of cut rope in the back of you and your wife’s car. We believe someone was trying to kill her and make it look like a pure accident; way from the start, and unfortunately, they did succeed.”

“So, what do you suggest we both do?” Carlton asked, staring gloomily down at his feet.

“I just recently got a search warrant for an address down on Serengeti.” Jackie answered. “I did a bit of tracing and it appears the reciept for the wire rope was registered to a Robert Gillimore. If you take a ride along with me real quick, maybe we can both make it down there before he decides to bolt and I can’t make the window. You’re the only one true witness I’ve got in all of this.”

Chapter Seven

“Looks abandoned.” Carlton carefully observed the rusty old trailer home.

Jackie steadily drew her M9.

“All the more reason for us to investigate.” She responded, quickly giving the door a few raps along with the usual warning.

“Police! Anybody on the premises?”

The pair was greeted eerily by a still and deadly silence.

The lioness tried again.

“Police! Is anybody in there?”

Finally, a pair of feet could be heard rather steadily approaching the door and Carlton’s heart began to pound more than soundly, as the doorknob slowly began to rattle and turn.

Chapter Eight

“So sorry to bother you, ma’am.” Jackie said, apologetically flashing her badge to the middle aged mongoose before her. “New Africana PD. I’m looking for Robert.”

“Oh, lord. What in the hell could he have possibly done and gotten himself into this time?” Misses Gillimore rolled her eyes indignantly, with a sigh.

“Oh, boy. Sounds like another doozy I know elsewhere.” Carlton muttered, silently under his breath.

Cousin Jackie elbowed him playfully in his gut before finally giving her full inquiry.

“Has your husband ever had somewhat of a history with us visiting this residence before, ma’am?”

The mongoose scoffed. “Please.” She said, animatedly waving a paw. “The fool’s probably got a bank account full of get out of jail free cards. Don’t know why you jokers don’t at all just lock him up and throw away the key.”

“Where do you think we could possibly find him now, Miss?” Carlton piped up.

“Let me go grab my car keys.” Misses Gillimore said, slowly turning on a heel. I’ll show ya’ll the way.”

Chapter Nine

“Hey, Rob!” Jackie called out to the mongoose at the east end of the local Miles High club and casino. “Come here. I wanna talk to you.” The mongoose almost immediately turned his tail and attempted to run, but Carlton was quicker and grabbed him rather firmly by the tail; dangling him dangerously towards his maw.

“Do with him whatever you wish, cousin.” Jackie said. “It’s my gift to you; in honor of both of our spouses he claimed. But, just make sure he suffers, whole and in full.”

“Oh, don’t worry.” Carlton replied, as his empty stomach let out a gurgling growl. “I believe I have at least one thing first and foremost on my mind...Dinner time.”

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Publication Date: 07-25-2017

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