The Blackfire Protocol by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 29

The weeks went by with occasional visits to Betsy’s apartment for what could be called an overnight stress release. But the focus for both was their studies. Still, wondered what had become of Ava. She had not been seen on campus for a few days, and out of concern, the dean called the police and, breaking into her apartment, discovered a grisly sight. She had somehow managed to acquire a handgun and found it on the floor of her living room, with every chamber filled but one. Having left a note, Ava again professed her love for Frank. The rest was nothing more than scribble, making no sense whatsoever. The caliber of the weapon was determined to be a nine millimeter, something that could do an unbelievable amount of damage. With her emotions clouding her judgment, Ava loaded the pistol and, placing the barrel approximately two inches behind her chin, pulled the trigger. What seems to evade most people regarding the use of

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firearms is that once the trigger is squeezed, there is no going back. There is no undo button on a gun, and certainly not on a life that has been ended by its use.

The results of this weapon sat on the couch in Ava’s apartment. Police surmised that she had become so distraught at the loss of what she described as her one true love that the only way of dealing with her pain and anger was to escape it. Knocking on her door, the police officer listened intently, hearing nothing. With Ava mysteriously absent for a few days, the officer had cause to search the perimeter of her property, and looking through one of the windows, noticed her legs hanging off the edge of her couch. With nothing else visible, the officer knocked on the window, yelling for her attention. When there was no response, he called it in as a possible homicide, and soon a small army of police showed up at the apartment. Knocking at the door, they tried to elicit a response as well, but when none was forthcoming, they resorted to more aggressive measures. Retrieving a battering ram, they turned the door to toothpicks, allowing them immediate access. In front of them, they discovered Ava’s body. Due to the placement of the pistol, she was left unrecognizable, with her skull opened like a flower. The force of the blast had ejected her brain intact, sending it across the room, where it was found in a corner behind an upholstered chair. Death was immediate, and it was unlikely she had even heard the shot.

Most officers in DC are seasoned cops with at least ten years of experience under their belts, and many

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had seen things no person should see. But with one or two rookies at the scene, this had been their first opportunity to witness something this gruesome. The sight of so much carnage sent them running and, stopping near their cars, bent down and emptied their stomachs of the breakfast they had consumed only a few hours before. The scene was condoned off with crime tape. The only people allowed in were a small group of select officers as well as the coroner, who made swift work of his examination. Within half an hour, Ava’s remains were zipped into a body bag and carefully carried to a waiting ambulance. From there, she would be placed on a stainless steel gurney and wheeled to the hospital morgue, where her body would undergo an autopsy. Her family was notified, and upon questioning by the police, stated that she had been plagued with mental health issues and had been off her medication for a few days. Upon further investigation, police found a bottle of Aripiprazole, a powerful antipsychotic also used in the management of bipolar disorder. This seemed to answer a great deal of questions and was substantiated by responses given by Frank, who, as part of the investigation, had been interviewed by authorities. Given her previous behavior, he wasn’t sure whether to be surprised or not, but he didn’t think she had it in her to commit suicide. The police did not release any significant details about the case out of consideration for the family. As far as he was concerned, the matter of her behavior was now a closed book. Although his perspective seemed a bit selfish, Frank needed to move and continue with his studies, as did many students previously under her academic care.

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