A Bit of a Surprise

A Bit of a Surprise

It was a strange night, there seemed to be a chill in the air..., I wasn’t quite sure what was afoot, however, I never knew what each new case or situation might have in store for me. My name is Josh O’Fallon, I come from a long line of police types. It is in my blood and I love to solve mysteries. Basically I’m pretty much ordinary. I am six feet two inches tall and I normally weigh near 225 pounds, give or take. Mostly I over indulge, especially if I have just closed a case or satisfied a client. My shoulders are broad and muscular, having endured four years of Marine life followed by 20 years with the police department. I was in Military Police work before attaining a job with the local constabulary. While with the police department I was a Patrolman for a few short years and then went in the Detective Bureau. I also served as a detective, I attained first grade status in due time. As an investigator, I was involved with every type of crime one could imagine. I put in my 20 years, retired, started drawing my retirement and after sitting on my backside for a time, I am an industrious fellow and I love detective work. I decided to go into investigations on my own. I call my business, “O’Fallon’s Personal Investigations.” I have always thought that the business name had a good professional ring to it. Truth of the matter is I would do just about anything for the right amount of cash. I even did a few jobs as an escort, but I hated that type of work. Too many personalities and “nut jobs” to deal with on those jobs. I’m a “lone wolf”, and I enjoy controlling the action with cases where I’m the one who is responsible to the client. I can be a bit flamboyant, but I’m a dedicated investigator. It has always worked out best for me. At my age, 47, I need as few headaches and interferences as necessary. incidentally, my friends call me “Guns”, as I am a marksman with just about any firearm that is available to private investigators, such as myself. I always try to stay away from physical violence, however, in my line of work, that’s next to impossible. As a result, I spend lots of time at the gym and most of that work is spent pounding on the heavy bag. I certainly not the tough-minded guy on the block, but, I can manage myself when an scrap with a street thug presents itself.

Recently there had been several home burglaries and the local police force wasn’t having much success in finding the offender. All of the felonies had taken place in an upscale housing subdivision known as Heritage Estates. Most, if not all the residences, were in the upper $500,000.00 category. the thief knew his or her business as the burglaries usually took place when no one was home. The stolen merchandise included jewelry, electronics, and sporting goods. Most of these items were next to hopelessly impossible to trace, at least locally. After a time one of the burglaries took a turn for the worst. The burglar apparently was interrupted by a homeowner and unfortunately for the homeowner, the scene became violent in a heartbeat. The victim was left beaten and bloodied by the culprit. The victim ended up in the hospital and was in a coma. Several suspects had been rounded up and interrogated. The results were negative in all cases. The Homeowners Association of Heritage Estates contacted me and hired me to do what I do best, resolve the crime and catch the perpetrator. I was on the case.
I spent the next several days interviewing all the owners who had been victimized. I then set about planning a systematic method to do as much observing both day and night in the Heritage housing area. I tried not to set up my surveillance in any structures pattern and tried my utmost to fit in to the area as just another passerby. As all the robberies had taken place during the day, I did most of my observing during the daylight hours. This was a big change from the usual work I got hired to complete. Once I was even invited to a recent crime scene in the Heritage Estates. As soon as I arrived, I could sense that something was out of place... This was a new crime scene. Big surprise!Laying at the foot of a bed, there was the current suspect in the recent home burglaries. It was the body of none other than Biff Boudreaux. His body was face down and there appeared to be a gunshot entry wound behind the left ear of the decedent. Everyone, including yours truly was genuinely stumped by the turn of events. It looked as though Biff had entered the home with an accomplice, they had begun to gather several items. What happened next was speculation on our part. It struck me that Mimi Mink’s name had not been brought up during the investigation of the other burglaries. I felt that fact was a gross oversight on the part of the local police investigation. Most everyone, who knew Biff, new Mimi was always close by when he was on the prowl. I knew instantly I would make a special effort to locate Mimi as soon as possible. I, however, didn’t realize that would take a tremendous effort o my behalf to find Biff’s partner in crime.
Later I decided to go for an evening stroll. I walked about three blocks when I felt it... I was being followed by an old blue Dodge pickup. I had the good sense to keep my eyes on the street ahead. I stopped under the corner streetlight to light a cigarette. As I lit eh smoke I casually gazed over my shoulder to get a better look at that truck. I hoped to have some luck to identify the driver as well as any other parties within that old vehicle. No such luck did I have. The driver pulled over to the curb as soon as I stopped to light the cigarette. I tossed caution to the wind. I made a quick spin and darted toward the truck. However, as soon as I made my move, the truck came speeding across the street and straight in my direction. I jumped aside quickly to prevent the truck from striking me in that darkened street. Out of the corner of my eye I could see that the driver was quite possibly a female or wearing a cheap wig. I suddenly got a flash. I lay sprawled on the pavement, I rolled to the side as the truck came within inches of crushing me. I shot a keen glance into the truck an I was sure the driver was wearing some sort of disguise. I jumped to my feet and headed straight to the police station. I reported the incident to Police Chief Chauncey Creason. He seemed a bit amused at my story, but he was more than willing to listen to my plan to capture the Heritage Estate burglar who had been terrorizing the area. I spent the better part of three hours at the precinct sharing my plan with Chief Creason. He was willing to go along with me. He told me he'd go along as long as there was total support by his officers. I would have ample backup as the plan unfolded. I went to bed late that night knowing I would have to put myself in harms way to capture the Heritage Estates burglar. I knew it was as risk I had to take to end the burglary spree.
I had little trouble sleeping that night. Truth was I couldn't wait to get to the stake out and effect my plan. Earlier in the week I had spent some time potting geographically all the previous burglaries in the Heritage Estates. I could see a pattern to the burglaries. In my mind,I was convinced that my plan would be successful to capture the perpetrator. I would slip, undetected, into the home what I felt would be the next victim and My plan would run its course according to my judgment. Once I was in place it would be a waiting game. To my disappointment, the next three days on the stake out were fruitless. There were no other break-ins in the heritage Estates. I was positive that the stake out would prove to be a good move. I just didn't know when it would finally payoff. I'd been on other tough cases, but, this one seemed to be getting more difficult as time passed. Each evening I would return to my office and then home for a short period of rest. I would sneak back to the stake out each morning just before the sun came out. Wait, wait, and more wait. I was getting to the end of my rope and worst Police Chief Creason was nearing the end of his patience. Still the only thing left was to try for another day or two to see if anything would happen.
On the fifth day of the stake out, I was a bit exasperated that there was still no action. Just then, I heard a noise at the side of the house. Ah, hah, someone was breaking into the home. I could feel my muscles tense. I was ready for a little action. I breathed slow and deep as not to let this perpetrator know I was ready to spring the trap we had set. It was but a few minutes until I saw a faint shadow creep into the bedroom where I was hiding. The burglar was very methodical as he/she covered the entire room looking for items to pilfer. I took one last deep breath. I jumped the would-be burglar and the fight was on. Whoever this thief was, he/she was almost more than I could handle. There was lots of pushing and shoving from both participants. Neither of us seemed to gain an advantage. I took a swing at this perpetrator and to my amazement removed a large wig from his head. It was only then I could tell the burglar was a male. It was in fact, Bolt Boudreaux. One quick kick to his groin, a well-placed punch to his chin, and Boudreaux went down like a sack of potatoes. I quickly rolled him over on his stomach and snapped the handcuffs around his wrists. The case was over. I was paid my fee. Tonight my gal and I would dine at a fine bistro!
WORD COUNT = 11/10/09 = 1798