The newsroom floor was a picture of chaos.

Phones rang out like a cacophony of

digitized musical crickets. Fingers hammering keyboards could have been mistaken
for the sound of a toddlers tap dance school. All this combined with the rabble of a
dozen voices speaking simultaneously made it difficult for Bobby to think clearly.
Historic Record Attendance Expected For Veterans Day Parade
The headline for his article was too long, too wordy and failed to deliver that click
bait urge the editor demanded from everyone at the paper. Bobby was usually tasked
with writing social commentary pieces but his boss, Rory Gable, offered him this one
as a good lead in for the main story hed been working on.
Like a clown playing poker with a deck of alphabet cards, he shuffled and juggled the
words, hoping for a winning hand. Bobby jumped when his concentration was broken
by a slap on the back. He turned to see Roarin Rory hovering over his seat in his
small, cramped cubicle.
Jackson! Rory bellowed, in spite of their close physical proximity. Hows the article
coming along?
Fine Sir, just massaging the
Get it done. Rory muttered as he squinted at Bobbys screen. How far off is the one
about your Dad?
First draft is complete, I was just
Get it done. Rory grumbled again before stalking off to find another poor soul to
torment.
Screw it, thatll do. Bobby said to himself as he submitted his parade article for
review. He clicked on his Recent Documents tab and opened the main one hed been
writing for the past week.
My Father - The Hero
It was a feel good piece about his father, David Jackson. Bobbys father had served in
both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He had earned, among other awards, a silver star
medal for his efforts. It had proven to be a difficult piece to write as during Bobbys
teenage years, his father had largely been deployed.
Bobby had been raised by his Grandparents who had very old fashioned values.
Bobbys mother had passed away when he was just a baby.
Through his interviews for the article, Bobby learned more about his father than in all
the years hed spent with him since his return from war.
As he began re-reading the article, his mobile vibrated in the pocket of his pants. He
withdrew it and checked the caller ID it was his adopted brother, Amir.

Hey Amir. Bobby said as he tried to find a quieter place in the office to talk.
Bobby, is that you? Amir replied.
Amir was twenty one, three years younger than Bobby. David had adopted Amir after
he returned from Afghanistan. Amirs entire family had been killed in a drone strike
and Amir had been placed in an orphanage. Since his move to the US over ten years
ago, Amir had assimilated well but speaking on phones wasnt his forte.
Yes Amir, its me Bobby. You just called me, remember?
Bobby, what time will you be home tonight? Amir blurted out. Bobby had fallen out
with his buddy, whom hed shared an apartment with and moved back in with his
father and Amir until he could find another place to rent.
I should be back by six or seven at the latest. Im going to the gym after work.
Who is Jim? Amir asked.
No, I mean the gymnasium. For exercise. Why do you ask Amir?
I am going to a friends house and wont be there. I cant reach Dad on his telephone
so can you please tell him for me? Amir explained.
Sure. Are you going to Calebs place again? Bobby questioned him.
Yes, Calebs place. Please tell Dad.
Alright. See you when I see you.
You can see me? Amir asked in a puzzled voice.
No, its just a saying. Good bye Amir, Ill let Dad know.
Good bye Bobby, God bless you. Good luck with Jim.
Another odd conversation, thought Bobby. He sent a text message to his father to let
him know Amirs plans. As he hit send, he received a message. It was from his
girlfriend, Carly.
Carly: Meet at Alfredos for lunch?
Bobby hated going there it was the most expensive place to eat near the office. The
average price of a sandwich was $7 and a regular coke was $3. He preferred eating at
McDonalds but Carly had expensive taste.
Bobby texted back: Sure, are you paying?
Carly: LOL tight ass. See you there at 1230

Bobby checked his watch. It was already mid day, so he began cleaning up his desk
and locked his terminal. He grabbed his coat from the rack and wandered down to the
elevator. Carly was also a reporter for the same newspaper that Bobby worked for.
Shed been working there for a year longer than Bobby and was really good at her
job. As a result, she was often given hot stories to work on.
Bobby arrived at Alfredos early, so he placed the usual order over the counter for the
two of them then took a seat by the window. Carly arrived moments later and sat
opposite him. She was wearing a black coat, black skirt, black stockings, black high
heels and a grey blouse under her coat. Her long blonde hair spilled over the coat. The
lipstick she wore was highlighted more so by the lack of colour from her clothing.
Carly leaned in for a kiss, which Bobby was only too keen to return.
Did you order? Carly asked him with a raised eyebrow.
Yes, just the usual. Bobby replied.
God, Im starving. You know, I havent stopped since I got to work this morning.
Me too, said Bobby with a grin. Starving I mean. Im not suggesting Im as busy as
you are. What are you working on?
Carly flashed him a smile, she liked feeling important. The editor sent me down to
the station this morning to take an interview with the Superintendent. She leaned in
close and half whispered, could be a serial killer on the loose.
What? Do tell! Bobby said as he listened intently to Carly.
Well, apparently theres been a spate of murders across the city. Nothing new for this
city, I know. But the thing is, theyve not been linked until the most recent one.
Wow, sounds like a great story if its true. Bobby said. Carly had been given other
stories in the past which looked great on the surface but fizzled out the more she
looked into them. He hoped for her sake, this wouldnt be one of those.
Before long, their food arrived and they both tucked in. Bobby ate his tuna and salad
sandwich while Carly enjoyed a chicken kebab with the works. Despite his earlier
reservations about coming to Alfredos, he had to admit the food was second to none.
After he finished his last bite and wiped his mouth with a serviette, Bobbys thoughts
went back to the conversation about the serial killer.
So what else did the cops say? he asked Carly, who was still eating.
The Superintendent said she believed the killer would strike again - soon. Carly
responded between bites of her kebab.
How soon? Bobby pressed.
Like maybe today or tomorrow.

So its been happening every week then? How long has this been going on?
Two months apparently. Carly finished her kebab and wiped her mouth. She missed
a bit near her lips, so Bobby wiped it clean for her.
Two months? Bobby said incredulously. Why has it taken so long to work out that
its a serial killer? I havent heard anything about this.
No offense Bobby, but its not like youre high on the list of people the police think
they need to inform about such matters. Carly highlighted with a wry grin. She
suggested it was because the victims were all repeat offenders scumbags who get
out of jail or whose cases are stuffed up by the police arrest or investigation, shit like
that.
Bobby thought about that for a minute. There had been an increase in murders around
the city. He recalled a conversation between Rory and the editor last week, where
Rory suggested foul play after a paedophile had been shot in an alleyway near a
school. Sadly for Carly, Bobby knew the story would never amount to much. No one
cared what happened to criminals.
That night, Bobby returned home after his gym session. His father was in the lounge
room ironing his uniform.
Getting ready for the parade tomorrow Dad? Bobby asked as he stepped through the
doorway from the kitchen.
Hey Bobby! His Dad replied. Yeah, they have me making another damn speech.
You know how I hate doing that.
Im covering the parade for the newspaper. Maybe we can catch up afterwards?
Bobby asked.
Thatd be cool by me. His Dad said as he began pinning the medals on the front of
the shirt. Bobby counted them eleven in total.
Whats that one for? Bobby asked as he pointed to the purple heart medal.
That one? His father asked as he grabbed the medal between his index finger and
thumb. Thats for my leg. Got shot in the leg towards the end of my last deployment.
Hurt like a bitch, you know? His father appeared distant for a brief second, his face
took on pained look. Then he laughed unexpectedly. Kid shot me actually. I told him
to drop the gun and I think he tried to but their guns over there are rubbish. Trigger
was jumpy and it went off before it hit the ground. Scared the shit out of me. He
smiled as he continued to put the medals on his shirt. Guess Im lucky to be alive.
Bobby knew it was a memory his father had suppressed but he wanted to know more.
What happened to the kid? he asked, despite fearing the worst.
Buddy of mine killed him. His father replied in a soft voice.

Im sorry, Bobby said awkwardly. He didnt know what to say but he could see his
father was upset by the conversation, so he changed the topic. Did you get my text
message about Amir?
Yeah, I got it. Hes at Calebs house again?
Yep. Hes been going there a lot lately. Good to see him hanging out with friends
isnt it? Bobby asked.
I guess so. His Dad said as he polished one of the medals on his shirt.
Im goin to a movie with Carly later tonight Dad. Youre welcome to join us if you
want?
His father laughed. Thanks for the offer bud but Ill pass. Gotta practice the speech
before bed.
Later that night, Bobby went to the movies with Carly. They saw a dud of a movie
called Little Vampire but Bobby didnt care he only went to spend time with Carly.
He hit the sack earlier than normal and got a great nights sleep.
As dawn was breaking, Bobby was awoken by the sound of sirens. A loud banging
noise at the front door forced him into action. He grabbed his robe from the end of his
bed and pulled it on. It was freezing. He glanced at a clock and saw it was just after
5am. The banging continued on the front door, followed by the incessant ringing of
the doorbell.
Robert Jackson, open the door! a loud voice boomed from the other side of the door.
Bobbys heart pounded in his chest. Why were they using his name? He looked
through the curtains. Bobby spotted three police cars outside. Their lights were all
flashing blue. Outside his door he saw half a dozen police. He opened the door and
faced them.
Are you Robert Anthony Jackson? the large policeman before him asked.
Yes, Bobby replied. Whats going on?
Your father, David Leonard Jackson, has been killed during an attempted murder.
Can we come in?
Dads dead? Bobby could hardly believe what he was hearing. He had to snap out of
it as the police tried shoving their way into his house. Do you have a warrant?
Bobby demanded as he struggled to absorb what he was hearing.
A police officer behind the one in front of Bobby pushed forward and thrust the
papers into Bobbys hands. It was a warrant to search their home and take away any

evidence pertinent to their investigation. Bobby moved out of their way and let them
in. He sat on the couch, the weight of grief slowly bearing down on him.
One of the police officers was hovering around him.
Its probably on the tele now.
What is? Bobby asked.
David called the media before he tried to the officer grabbed the remote from the
coffee table and flicked on the TV. Well, you can see for yourself.
The reporter on the TV was a well known news anchor. This is Cooper Anderson
reporting for NCC news. Lets take another look at the footage.
In the clip they played Bobby could see his father dressed in his full ceremonial
uniform. He was standing over a man on his knees, with a gun pointed to his head. A
police negotiator was telling him to drop the gun. Instead, his father turned towards
the camera.
What, Im not your hero anymore? You pay me and fly me to another country and
have me kill people who are no threat to me or Americans. People I dont know. I
come home and you pin medals on me for the things I did? Horrible things and yet
you reward me? You call me a hero?
He paced back and forth, waving the gun in the air.
I kill assholes in this country, in our home. People who are a threat to you. Who
threaten our way of life. People who dont deserve to live. Like this scumbag, David
struck the man before him with the butt of the gun he held. You know what he was
doin before I stopped him? He tried to rape a girl on her way home from work. A
single Mom, workin a night shift to make ends meet for her kids. And this predator
attacks her. He dont deserve to live.
Put the gun down! the negotiator shouted again.
A shot was fired, followed by screams then two more shots. The officer turned the TV
off. Bobby sat there motionless.
We know he had an accomplice, Bobby heard the policeman say. Where is your
brother?
At Calebs house, mumbled Bobby as his mind reeled and his world fell apart.
So hed had enough and gone it alone, thought Bobby.
It would now be up to him to finish what they started.