The Rat Of Fury
By Anna Fallon

 

CHAPTER ONE
 

“Miss Brightman?” Sunshine turned toward the unfamiliar voice questioning her.

In the corridor of her office building, Sunshine faced a medium built man. Dressed in full police uniform, the officer looked directly into her eyes. She’d never seen him before, never really seen any officer up close and personal.  Sadness lingered in his copper brown eyes. Sunshine's sharp sense of intuition told her he didn't want directions to the nearest donut shop. Something bad must have happened, very bad.

“You are Miss Sunshine Brightman, correct?”

“Yes?” she answered and noted he looked a little lost as to what to say next. With her heart striking up a faster pace, Sunshine pressed him for more detail. “What can I do for you, Officer?”

“Just a moment, Miss.” He turned toward a suited man following about ten paces behind. This man quickly closed the distance between them, quite frosty in his expression. His tailored eyebrows touched together with a frown. Large build, trim, tailored suit – looking like he had a purpose, not just to get to her, for his whole existence.

“This is Miss Brightman, Sir,” the officer stated simply.

“Very good, Harris. I'll take it from here,” the suited man replied.

“Miss Brightman, is there a place we can talk…privately?” his mouth smiled, his eyes didn't reflect humor. Sunshine felt under examination, the way she thought a lab rat would feel. Despite his cool looking demeanor, she knew he instantly assessed everything about her on the spot.

“Yes, of course. Just go into my office.” Sunshine extended her arm to indicating the wide oak door across the hall. The pace of her heart slipped into a higher gear, her moist palms clinging to her fingers, now curled into a tight bunch. Closing the door behind her, and walking past him to flick a switch, which blocked all calls. Sunshine made eye contact with him once more. His steely blue eyes never blinked. His square jaw set firmly, he spoke very deliberately.

“My name is Larson...Detective Sergeant Larson, Hollowbrook City Police Department. Miss Brightman, I’m afraid there has been an accident. A very tragic accident.”

“Just tell me,” Sunshine replied, bluntly. The look in his eyes softened a little. If Sunshine wasn't mistaken, she recognized a hint of admiration in them.

“Would you like to sit down?” he offered, running his hand through his floppy dark fringe.

“Just tell me...please.” Sitting down was not an option in these situations. Sunshine remained upright. Lord knew she stood too short now, the last thing she needed was a surly, suited up cop standing over her. No, on second thought, he is anything but surly. Still, she wanted to feel in control. Pulling herself up to her full five foot four height, Sunshine squared her petite shoulders. Her Chinese genes did nothing to help her look formidable, but her attitude projection could stop a bus. Trained how to harness her inner-self, her years of Kung-Fu and Tai Chi Chuan study would hold her in good stead now.

“Miss Brightman…your family…has been murdered,” he exhaled slowly and audibly. Sunshine knew his eyes watched carefully, gleaning every scrap of reaction he could from her face. She tried to hold her expression poker-face straight.

The trembling started deep inside, but she fought back the tears stinging her eyes. This shocking news stunned Sunshine, maybe a heart attack or traffic accident, but murder? Who would do such a thing, and why? Aunt Viv and Uncle Tom, arguably, the gentlest people she’d ever known. They wouldn’t even kill a spider; they just scooped it up with some newspaper and popped it outside. The garden reeked of Tansy, Basil, and Chamomile, to name a few of the herbs grown to repel flies and other pesky insects. So why would anyone kill her family?

 Now she sat down abruptly, but not stooped or slouched over the desk racked with sobs. Sunshine kept her shoulders squared and sat upright, fighting her urge to lose control.

“How?” Not knowing if she could even handle this information, but the question begged asking anyway. Noting the way his eye contact dropped and the definite fidget he displayed, not good, she thought, not good at all.  Her intuition never failed her.

“How?” her voice showed the signs of the smouldering anger bubbling deep inside.

“Extremely bad, I’m afraid. Your Aunt and Uncle had been held and beaten, but it seems a sword made the fatal blow. According to the neighbours, the daughter-in-law and two grandchildren visited at the time. They recognised the car but heard nothing,” he added, studying her as he stated that piece of information.

This exact moment, something inside Sunshine snapped. A force of anger, greater than any she had ever felt, seethed in her veins. Although she knew this feeling went against all the teachings of her Sifu and Grandmaster, the fury steadily built inside her. Sunshine remained determined not to lose her cool outwardly.

 Her training taught her the ways of honor. It also gave her a level of strength and independence seldom seen in women. Family business stayed within the family. It was a matter of honor. Inside she quaked, outside she sat as still as stillness itself.

“Go on” she requested quietly.

“All dead, I’m sorry to say. Those poor kiddies. It’s enough to break a man. At least the assassin murdered them and their mother swiftly. It seems they died first. Your Aunt and Uncle fought for their lives. Whoever did this would not have come out of it unscathed. The bloodied swords found at the scene only had your Aunt and Uncle's prints on them.” Detective Sergeant Larson stared at the floor as he relayed the morbid information.

“Swords? Aunt and Uncle used swords? Do you know who could have done this, or why?” None of this made sense to Sunshine, no sense at all.

“No idea, at this stage, Miss. All we can ascertain is that whoever did this was looking for something. The contents of the house have been turned upside down, even cushions and mattresses have been slashed and the insides torn out. Do you have any idea what they could have wanted, Miss Brightman?” The detective asked it as if the answer had a great importance to him. “Can you think of anything at all?”

Her thoughts whirred over to no avail. She’d been raised by her Chinese born Aunt and Uncle in America, upholding many Chinese traditions. Peace, love and self-worth, Sunshine learned it all from them. She had no other family, not in America anyway. Sunshine attended Chinese lessons, to learn of traditions and the language, but for the most part she was raised American.

China would be the only place to find relatives now and she didn't know them from a bar of soap. That her family should meet with such a violent end felt abhorrent to her. Sunshine vowed to avenge them, there and then, and promised herself she would find the responsible people and kill them.

A voice in her head reminded her of the ten laws she vowed to uphold in her martial art training. Before her family had been murdered, everything seemed straightforward

“No, nothing. And their son...Frank?” Sunshine and Frank agreed to disagree and avoided each other when younger. After he married, they’d shared a closer relationship. He would be devastated at his family’s demise.

“He’s missing. I was hoping you may know where he is. Seems he never made work this morning, which by all accounts is extremely unusual,” he said.

“Yes, it is unheard of. Frank would go to work even if he were on his deathbed,” Sunshine observed, thinking aloud. Her mind searched for a possible connection to the murderers search.

“So you don’t know where he might be?” he asked.

“No Detective. I have no idea, I can only hope he is safe.”

“We thought about the idea of him being kidnapped for information, or murdered elsewhere. These people aren’t playing around, Miss Brightman. We feel you may need protection until we apprehend the perpetrators.”

The thought of police in her everyday life did not appeal to her at all. Sunshine valued privacy. Her past a veritable mystery, she certainly did not want to sacrifice her quiet life for close police surveillance. Not unless it became absolutely necessary. How to find these disgusting murderers she did not know. Yet, something deep inside the anger told her help would be at hand when needed.

“No, Detective Larson, that will not be necessary. I will be fine,” Sunshine adamantly said.

“Your life could be in danger, Miss,” he added.

“Nothing in my life will ever be the same, Detective, and I’m damned sure I will not live in fear of these monsters. If they are to come for me, then let them. I will die honourably, not hiding in fear like a coward. Thank you for coming. I think I need some time alone now.” Sunshine’s tone dismissed him.

She could defend herself from attack, having attained the highest order in Kung Fu. Self defence was not her primary motivation for practising martial arts. Inner peace became the major factor. Lately, her interest lies in Tai Chi Chuan. The health and spiritual aspects proved of greatest benefit. It was said immortality could be achieved, a warrior status to guide and teach. The road to spiritual attainment may be a little rockier now. Sunshine battled her thoughts of revenge versus forgiveness. “Yes, of course. We may need to ask you further questions, so let us know where you are staying.”

“I will be at home, Detective.”

“I very much doubt that, Miss Brightman. That place is out of bounds for now and not the prettiest sight. I would strongly advise you to stay away from there altogether. There are firms who do that sort of clean-up. Anyhow, forensics will want it for the next week or so, maybe more,” he closed his notepad and slid it into his top pocket inside the suit coat.

“I will take care of my own accommodation, Detective. Where can I reach you?” Sunshine decided it may be better for her to lay low at a motel for a while. Nothing would get solved if she made herself a sitting duck.

Detective Larson pulled a card from his wallet, “this is my private line, otherwise you’ll be all over the precinct before you reach me. Call me anytime, day or night. Take care,” he handed her the card. His sky blue eyes in a fixed gaze, trying to penetrate her resolve. Sunshine made sure her brick wall expression remained untouched, but in his eyes she saw something beyond the police training. She experienced a sensation that he knew she would not stand still on this matter.

“Thank you, Detective Larson. You can be assured I will be careful.”