Go Away Girls

Chapter One

It’s when the pipes hiss that she hates living here. A high pitched wail echoing off the buildings and all the animals cry in response, creating one big auditory torture device out of the city. The vaguely human shaped puddle at her feet didn’t inspire any ballads about Trixa, either.

“If you are finished leering.” The pock-marked officer barked and Clara was almost gratefull he didn't completely dismiss her like the other officers of Trixa's police force. She raised a painted eyebrow, the original shaved away in a youthful mistake it never recovered from. Her bangs covered one side of her face, but the other was left to the intense and scathing eyes of the officer.

“No need for that, Barnes.” Before he could be on the receiving end of Clara's infamous acidic tongue, Chief Stonewall hobbled between them. Barnes snapped to attention in-between clicks of the chief's cane. Every officer on scene knew the authority behind the thin, alabaster stick and it's wrinkled, old, eternally smiling leader and suddenly became models of efficiency. “He's new to this division, Clara. Don't you pay him any mind.”

Clara kept her eye on Barnes as he scurried off, peering though the auburn strands combed across her forehead. “You just saved me from having to make that baby cry, bossman.”

Stonewall only smiled, his blue eyes stern despite the pure mirth in his grin. “Thank you for consulting on this, young lady.”

Clara crossed her arms as best she could over her busom, the thick hide of her jacket making it harder to make the proper pose. “He's pureed, bossman. He's fucking soup.”

The old man turned to the chunky, red remnants of a human body roped off in the middle of the street. The trollies had been diverted but no force in the ten kingdoms could keep the masses from gathering to try and gawk at the essential proof they were nothing but bags of juicy mush just waiting for the proper impact. The feel of their eyes around her is what made Clara sick to her stomach. The body felt sadly normal.

“I can see that.” Stonewall's grin faded for only a moment when he looked at the red froth on the stone streets. The mess would have a hard time coming up without a good rainstorm he thought as the blood made it's lazy way down the shallow slope of the road, flowing slowly from the decimated torso.

Clara looked up at the surrounding buildings before approaching the corpse, her boots clicking just like Stonewall's cane. The officers parted to allow her and Stonewall to pass. “Nothing high enough to cause this much damage on impact.” She mumbled, a gentle whir singing in the air in response. Her gaze scanned the body, kneeling close to the gleaming remnants. “Spatters aren't right.”

“Anything else you can see?

“Oh, he was murdered, bossman, that's for true. Looks like his head exploded.”

Stonewall nodded, still keeping his smile in place. “I was afraid of that.” He gestured with his bare chin to the corpse's hands. A thick, gold ring glimmered in the sunlight, a single red stone sat in mockery of the blood on the ground.

“Quit grinding your teeth.” A voice scolded from inside Clara's head. “You're sending static.”

Clara licked her lips, her soft, round jaw suddenly aching when free from her abuse. “That's cause of your shitty signal.” She whispered, leaning closer to the ring. “Not good.”

“A highborn. This young man must be the son of an official.” Stonewall sighed, suddenly beside Clara and looking every second of his sixty-two years.

Clara stood, adjusting her belt and jacket straps right around her waist. “Cover him before there's a riot or cut off his hand. Whatever's clever.”

Stonewalls's smile returned, powerful as ever. “Thank you for your expertise.”

“You're full of shit, bossman. But don't stop callin'.” Clara smirked.