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Dark Valley

Chapter Two

© Cederwyn Whitefurr

9th June, 2019

All Rights Reserved,

Constable Selene was troubled. She was half way through the report, before she sighed and stopped typing on the computer and rubbed her eyes.

As she thought, he mind went over the evidence she had at hand. People from the AIS – or Accident Investigation Squad had come and examined the vehicle. They had interviewed her, then the Sargent. Selene was exhausted, bone weary, both physically and mentally.

Her mind kept going back to the accident. Sure, she had seen her share of them in her years as a Police officer, she didn't let that bother her. As part of their training, they were taught not to look at bodies as people – but as meat.

It was the only way to keep yourself sane, in this insane line of work. Something – something elusive – niggled at her, and as she mentally grabbed for it, it vanished like she was trying to grab a hand full of fog.

Sure, it just seemed like a simple vehicular accident, wet road, tired driver...

Something didn't add up, didn't add up at all. Rising, Constable Selene walked over to the coffee pot, pouring herself her twelfth cup since they returned to the police station. Her mind played over the evidence again and again, then she sipped the warm coffee and made her way back to the desk, her fingers splaying out the photographs of the road, the luminescent paint that had marked the tyres skidding pattern – all of it.

Finding no answers there, Selene began placing down the photographs taken at the hospital of the young woman who had been brought in. They were grisly, borderline in making Selene's stomach try to rise into her throat, but she suppressed this and stared down at them.

Deep slashes, possibly caused by breaking windscreen glass, the wedding gown – once beautiful, bloodied, muddied and torn – close ups of the long slashes in her back. Her pale brown eyes blinked slowly, before she frowned and held the slashed photographs close to her eyes, staring at them.

Her eyes strained, her mind tired mind began to wander. She was tired, oh so very tired, but something compelled her. Was it her sense of her work? Selene didn't know. Sure, she was trying her best to fill out the drudgery of the report, paperwork after paperwork after paperwork.

“One consolation - “ Selene muttered to herself, taking another sip of coffee, then setting down the cup. “Don't have to do it all by hand anymore...”

Again, that errant – something – wandered through her mind, taunting her, teasing her, yet remaining elusive and out of reach.

“An accident, wet road, tired driver – swerved to miss a Kangaroo – its happened before...” Selene mumbled, as she rested her head in her hands for a moment, trying to focus her tired mind.

Are you so certain? A thought trailed through her mind. Sure, it looks that way, but you seen the body of the husband, didn't you

“Just an accident - “ Selene sighed, as she took a moment to refocus.

Her tired body and mind began to wander, before she glanced at the clock and her eyes widened. She had been off shift for over five hours. Lost in the drudgery of the paperwork, and her own exhaustion, Selene had lost her sense of time perception.

Scooping up the photograph's, reports and other information, Selene filed it all away in a labelled manilla folder. She stood and braced herself with her palms on the desk as a wave of dizziness swept over her.

“I need some sleep, I'm no good to anyone, dead on my feet - “ Selene muttered, as she picked up her cap and headed for the door. “Get a fresh mind onto it after some sleep...”

*

Lying in bed, half awake and half dozing, that zone before deep sleep come to her, Selene's mind began whispering to her, as she rolled over and buried her face in the pillow.

Are you so certain? Her mind whispered at her. How do you explain what tore his throat out? You seen the photograph's from the morgue, a car crash doesn't do that, does it?

“Just..shut up, please!” Selene moaned, as she tossed fitfully on the bed, wishing she could escape her own mind and rest. “Fine, I'll interview the survivor later, when she's out of immediate danger. I'm sure she can tell me something I am overlooking in this case...”

With that, Selene drifted into a restless, haunted sleep.

*

That evening, Selene, dressed in her uniform, parked her Police Car at the Base Hospital and walked inside. Her heavy boots clicked against the floor, as she inquired with one of the night nurses, who directed her to where the survivor had been placed in a ward.

*

Resolving herself, putting on her 'work face' as Selene liked to think of it, all emotionless and resolved, Selene took a moment to take a deep breath, before she knocked on the door, then entered.

Laying on the bed, the woman was pale and a oxygen mask had been placed over her nose and mouth. She was dressed in a plain hospital gown, various machines monitoring her heart rate and other things, as a Nurse smiled and dropped the needle and syringe into the dish and gave a gentle pat to the woman's shoulder.

“Hello there, I'm Constable Selene,” Selene introduced herself, sweeping her cap off her head. “I was wondering if I could have some words with Mrs. Blackwood?”

“Of course,” Spoke the Nurse. “Just not too long please, she's very weak still.”

“I won't be long, I promise.” Selene smiled, then walked over and sat on the chair beside the bed. “Mrs. Blackwood, I don't know if you remember me, I'm Constable Selene. We met last night.”

On the bed, Katrina's eyes fluttered open and she shuddered, before giving a barely perceptible nod.

“Where...where's - “ Mrs. Blackwood murmured, her voice groggy from the sedatives that had been pumped into her so she could rest.

“I do not wish to tell you this, it is with much regret, I inform you that your husband, Jack Blackwood, died in the crash, I'm so sorry...”

Tears welled in Katrina's eyes, before she squeezed them closed, then her lips parted and a weak croak come from her throat – whispered words that Selene struggled to hear.

“I can not imagine how this must feel, yet I need to ask, can you please repeat what you just said?”

Leaning close, Selene almost had her ear against Katrina's mouth, as Katrina gasped and again, that faint whisper as she told the constable what had happened. It took over thirty minutes, Katrina in unimaginable agony and grief, but at last, her eyes fluttered closed and she lapsed unconscious again. Giving her a gentle pat on the hand, Selene rose and nodded to herself, before she folded her notebook closed and left the ward room, intending to find a doctor who could help answer some questions.

“Doctor Patterson, are you the current treating doctor, for a Mrs. Blackwood?” Selene asked, consulting her notebook.

“I am, you're new here, aren't you Constable?” He asked as he ushered her down the hall and into his officer, where he gestured to a chair.

“I am, thank you - “ Selene responded. “I've been assigned to this district from Melbourne, I must confess, it isn't what I envisioned when I first joined the force. It's so much – more laid back here, so – calm and restful. Much less stress than what I faced in Melbourne...”

“I can barely imagine!” Answered the doctor, as he sat down behind his desk and folded his fingers together, before leaning forwards. “Now, as you know, certain questions I can not answer, but please, ask, I'll do what I can to help with your investigation.”

“Sir, I did a preliminary examination of the accident scene last night, when we first received the call. From all accounts and purposes, I've put down that due to the road surface being slippery from the thunderstorm. Further, possible contamination from the oil from the Eucalyptus trees, this is the prime reason for the accident occurring. Now, none of that is immediately relevant to this perplexing case. What can you tell me about the injuries sustained to Mrs. Blackwood? I don't claim to know your profession doctor, but what I saw last night - “

He sighed, leaning back in his high backed chair and rested his chin on his palm, as he pondered.

“Indeed, her wounds were extensive. Deep lacerations, significant blood loss – if you hadn't found her when you did Constable, I'm sure she'd have died before help could have arrived, had someone not come across it.”

“Doctor, can you please explain the cuts to her back? More like - “ Selene pondered.

“We have given her a thorough examination, those wounds, we're certain, were not caused by the crash itself. We are of the belief she may have been thrown, or crawled, from the wreckage. Sharp sticks could have caused those wounds we saw in her back and the deep cuts on her shoulders..”

“I see - “ Selene nodded, as she noted it in her notebook. “Nothing untoward was discovered in the examination in the ED?”

With a frown, the doctor looked across his desk at Selene, who gazed back with a look of professional detachment.

“What do you define as untoward, Constable?”

“Anything, sir, it – it just doesn't sit right with me. Something doesn't add up, and I can't put my finger on it.”

“Well, keep this out of your report, but we found traces of semen on her gown and -”

Raising her eyebrow, Selene held up her hand and closed her notebook.

“Thank you Doctor, I appreciate your time in this regard.”

“Anytime Constable.”

*

Returning to her vehicle, Selene sat in thought, her mind replaying the interview – short as it was – with Mrs. Blackwood.

“They swerved to hit a kangaroo - “ Selene muttered to herself, piecing together the evidence she had at hand. “Sure, that goes with what we saw of the wreckage, but where was the kangaroo's body? It should have killed him instantly, if what Mrs. Blackwood just told me.”

Selene's frown grew, as she sat behind the wheel of the police car, her fingers tapping on the steering wheel as she pondered.

“There was no kangaroo corpse, she said her husband. Jack, heard the kangaroo's screams, he went to put it down and - “

For nearly fifteen minutes, Selene sat there, eyes unfocused, her mind going over it piece by piece, Nothing seemed to fit together, the puzzle pieces were not forming and interlinking as they should be.

“They hit a kangaroo, the road was wet and slippery - “ Selene continued thinking. “Evidence points to that, that much makes sense!”

What doesn't add up, is what happened to her? There was no way, Selene was certain, scratches and cuts, well, from the photographs, they looked more like literal slashes – there was no way sticks and branches could have done that.

If not that...then what?

Selene turned on the car and headed out of town, back towards the scene of the accident, certain she had missed some vital clue or evidence. None of this added up. She had seen the blood, assuming it was from the kangaroo they had struck with their vehicle.

After nearly fifteen minutes, Selene pulled over and parked, turning on the flashers on the police car, before she stepped out and paused, looking both ways, before she walked across the road.

It all looked so different now.

Road smooth and dry, the wrecked and mangled car having been pulled from the ravine and sent to the police impound yard.

As she began walking a hundred metres one way, then back the other, her eyes swept the roadside, then she stood at the shoulder, looking down the embankment. At any moment, she expected to see the dead remains of the kangaroo, yet nothing was found.

“Could be a dingo or something dragged him off overnight, they exist around here.“ Selene pondered to herself, as she walked a hundred metres back the other way.

“Curlew Base to VK4...” Cracked her radio clipped to her belt, and Selene jumped in fright, so lost in her own thoughts as she snatched the radio up.

“VK4 receiving, go ahead Curlew Base” Selene replied.

“VK4, we have a case of animal cruelty reported on the old Sugarmill road – can you respond, over?”

“Received Curlew base, VK4 on route, out.” Selene answered, then hung the radio back on her utility belt. “Just what I needed - “

*

Selene's car pulled up and she climbed out, making her way past the knot of onlookers, before she stared wide eyed at the sight before her. A young male grey kangaroo had been lashed to a give way sign – barbed wire securing it firmly about three feet from the ground. It's eyes were closed, thankfully, its muzzle open as if it was screaming in fear and agony, tongue lolling from the right side of its muzzle.

As Selene's eyes took in the grisly sight, she noticed the wire had been pulled so tight, it had cut into his throat and blood had cascaded down the pale belly and pooled around his feet, which were likewise wired to the sign, the wire having cut through to the poor animals bones.

Returning to the car, Selene took a moment and brought herself under control. It was unbecoming of a Police Officer to feel this way, let alone if she succumb and vomited all over the ground! Drawing on her training, she steeled herself and adopted a professional mental outlook, projecting confidence and authority.

Realistically, she was sickened and horrified by what she had seen. How could anyone be so cruel?

Opening the boot, she retrieved thick work gloves and cutting pliers, before returning to the kangaroo and starting to snip away the wires. As her hand rested on the creatures belly, Selene screamed and dropped the pliers, as the Kangaroo shrieked and struggled.

“It's still alive!” Someone in the crowd wailed.

Screaming, the kangaroo struggled, the cruel barbed wire tore open the wounds, before it gurgled and went limp, the body twitching and finally falling still, the paws slumping and tail thudding against the sign.

“How could - “ someone yelled, their voice angry and horrified.

“Who, what sick monster did this?” Someone else screamed in rage and heartbreak.

Selene kept her calm and her professionalism, even though her mind echoed the feelings and thoughts of the onlookers.

Lifting the digital SLR camera, Selene photographed the kangaroo from all angles. Zooming in on the wounds, the barbed wire and then the sign and any other evidence she could find. This would be evidence, used in the local magistrates court, to convict whoever was responsible for such unspeakable cruelty.

Of course, that was, if anyone was caught for this...

Satisfied, Selene took the pliers and she cut the kangaroo down and lay it on the blanket she had brought from the police car. Wrapping the Kangaroo's corpse in the blanket, Selene crouched down, then she slid her arms beneath it and grunted, as she picked it up, holding it tight.. She could feel the still warm body in its shroud, before she carried it back to the police car and placed it in the boot and then shut the door.

Unseen by the onlookers, Selene shuddered and gently placed a hand on the dead Kangaroo's forehead, uttering a silent prayer for this innocent animals life.

Never had she seen such blatant and cruel mistreatment. This poor kangaroo, at a guess, Selene suspected he was about three or four, was only a young adult – yet some sick people had tortured it and left him here to die, frightened, in unspeakable agony – and alone...

Returning to the scene, Selene began speaking with people, to see if anyone had seen or heard anything during the night, or early this morning. Confused, upset and angry, most people admitted they had not seen or heard anything, but they wished they could help her with her investigation.

“Please, if any of you, think of anything that might help, contact Curlew Police Station, here, my card – rest assured, I'll find the person, or people, who did this!”

Handing out cards from a belt pouch on her utility belt, Selene was official and authoritative, before she turned on the onlookers.

“Please, go home – there's nothing you can do here. I have the evidence, and I promise, it'll be a priority for me, personally, to get to the bottom of this! There is nothing you can do to assist, please, go home.”

Under her authoritative voice, many of the townsfolk began dispersing, returning to their homes or places of work, as Selene shuddered and returned to the police car. She felt sick to her stomach at what she had witnessed, yet she knew the local veterinarian well, he might be able to shed some light on this – maybe.

*

Selene pulled up outside Curlew's Veterinary hospital, her stomach still feeling queasy, before she stepped from the car and approached the door. Just as she reached it the young Vet come out, smiling at her and shook her hand.

“Ah, Constable Selene, how are you this fine autumn day?”

Selene looked at him, before her resolve failed and she rushed to the side, before she vomited into the garden, unable to hold herself together any longer.

“Hey, honey – easy...” He whispered, stroking her back. “Woah, are you alright? What's wrong, come on, come sit down over her, I'll get you some water.”

Selene shrugged him off, almost coldly, before she drew a trembling hand over her mouth and shuddered, then she waved her hand at the police car.

“Geoff...in...the boot - “ Selene gagged again, gorge rising in her throat.

He followed her instructions reluctantly, before he popped open the boot and retrieved the blood soaked bundle, carrying it back inside quickly. Selene followed a few minutes later, drying her face and looking as white as flour.

She slumped into a chair, placing her head in her hands, not wanting to look at the body again. He placed the object on an examination table. He pulled back the blanket, then turned away, his own bile rising in his throat as he shuddered.

“Who...could do such a thing to a kangaroo - “ Selene moaned in pain.

“How the - “ Gasped Geoff, as he turned back, retrieving a pair of latex gloves, before fully unwrapping the corpse and looking down at it.

“Someone found this poor kangaroo, still alive, strapped with barbed wire to the give way sign out on Sugarmill road. What sick bastards - “ Selene muttered, before her hands began to clench into fists, only with great effort, did she suppress the white hot rage that began to build within her.

Geoff began tenderly exploring the kangaroo's body. He noted the torn throat, the other injuries and as he spoke to the recorder, it logged his observations. Sliding a gloved hand down the right leg of the kangaroo, Geoff frowned and stopped his recorder, as Selene looked at him.

“Oh, those fucking bastards - “ Geoff snarled, as he ran his fingers over the kangaroo's thigh. “They broke his leg, probably ran him down with a car, that's how they captured him – then as a cruel, sadistic prank...”

Selene shuddered, and dashed out of the surgery, her hands clasped to her mouth. Geoff took off his gloves and gown, then followed her a moment later, shaking his head and his own face flushed with anger and hatred at what he'd found.

Outside, Selene doubled over, her stomach roiling and flopping, before she drew a dozen gasping breaths and managed to suppress her urge to throw up.

“I'll get right onto it Selene, I promise – you'll have my report by tonight. I'll email it to you. Gods, I hope you find these sick bastards who did this...” Geoff growled, as he unclenched his fists, then placed a hand lightly on Selene's shoulder, giving her a comforting squeeze. “I guess dinner tonight at the pub is off -”

Selene shuddered and nodded, before turning her head to the side and looking up at him. “I'm – sorry honey, after that...I don't think I will eat again, ever.”

“Hey, no problem – we can reschedule something sometime! I'll call you later, make sure you're okay – alright?”

“Thanks...” Selene's voice was a soft whisper.

Giving Geoff a quick kiss on the cheek, Selene placed her hands on the wheel, composing herself, before she started the vehicle and drove out of the parking lot. She was horrified, sickened and wondered to herself, what sick, perverse person could do that to an animal - usually, from the case studies she had read about in her training – people who usually did that to animals – would soon step up to murder and torture of people...unless they were caught.

Selene tried to push it out of her mind, as she drove back to the police station. She knew only one thing, today wasn't her day, at the rate it was going, tomorrow wasn't looking too hot either..

To Be Continued...