CAUTION: This story contains implied sexual activity between minors, mild violence, and profanity. Reader discretion is advised.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
This novel is dedicated to Cormenthor, the creator of the Winter Creek and Prairie Flats setting in which most of this story takes place. We spent a great many evenings together playing video games and tabletop roleplaying games. He was a good friend, loyal and true, and will be sorely missed. Rest in peace, grumpy old bear.
Masala Chai
by IndigoNeko and TaintedThylacine
Prologue
Tuesday, January 5th, 2016
The chilly, damp breeze seemed to cut right through Officer Murphy’s jacket and fur. It was a miserable night to be standing outside, but the red fox didn’t exactly have a choice. He’d been the first officer to arrive on the scene, and would likely be one of the last to leave, since he was waiting on Sergeant Lupo to relieve him of duty. The Italian wolf had already made clear his displeasure at being pulled out of his warm, dry office.
The street he stood on, in front of the small Russian restaurant in north Philadelphia, was crowded enough to rival Grand Central Station and was exclusively populated by emergency personnel. Four squad cars, two ambulances, three duty vehicles, a forensics van, and two news station vans lined the ends of the street. A thirty foot area in front of the restaurant was taped off and empty except for a few forensic analysts and the eight bodies that were covered by plastic sheets.
Officer Murphy sighed and puffed at the cigarette in his muzzle as two black SUVs pulled onto the street as well, immediately recognizing them as federal government vehicles. In his time on the force, he’d only seen the feds twice before this. Both times had been total shitshows... almost as bad as this one was. The only good thing that had happened this evening was that the rookie had mostly kept his cool, having only puked once. Murphy didn’t blame the young squirrel for losing his lunch; this was one of the worst crime scenes he had ever seen. Hopefully Sullivan wouldn’t quit the force after this; the squirrel showed potential.
The two Chevy Suburbans came to a stop and the doors started opening, letting out over a half dozen people wearing navy blue windbreakers with the letters FBI on the back in bright yellow. Murphy was impressed to see so many feds. Usually they came in pairs, but he counted at least seven of them, all wearing vests under their jackets and many of them carrying assault rifles. The fox sighed, grateful that he wasn’t the ranking officer on the scene now.
The agents split up as they fanned out across the scene. The two feds that weren’t carrying rifles ducked under the police cordon he’d helped set up, checking under the plastic sheets. They stopped when they found the two dead tigers, pulling out cameras and snapping photos.
Another pair of agents headed towards Sergeant Lupo while the last three agents headed straight for the tiger cub sitting on the back of the ambulance, the sole survivor of this horrific incident. Officer Murphy wished the FBI agents the best of luck with the kid; despite his best efforts, the child hadn’t said a single word.
Please tell me you're going to expand on this. I like it already and other than what I read prior to this, I know next to nothing about what's going on.
Please tell me you're going to expand on this. I like it already and other than what I read prior t
Oh, I was talking about the prologue. Is it just going to be these three pages or is it going to be expanded? For some reason, it feels like there's more to be said here.
Oh, I was talking about the prologue. Is it just going to be these three pages or is it going to be
I hadn't planned on it. I didn't think there was that much interest in Noir stories.
If you're interested in reading more about any of the characters in my stories, I certainly don't mind writing about them. I've got a little background on Officer Murphy, Cadet Sullivan, and Sergeant Lupo. Philadelphia is my Film Noir / Mafia setting.
I hadn't planned on it. I didn't think there was that much interest in Noir stories. If you're inte
Masala Chai will take place back in Winter Creek. It's a slice of life story. But if there's interest in Noir / Mafia stories, I could write a story about Raenne's background. Or I could write a totally separate spin-off about the Philadelphia PD. Both might be fun.
Masala Chai will take place back in Winter Creek. It's a slice of life story. But if there's interes
I wouldn't mind learning more about Raenne's background. I know she was sexually abused by her father's associates. I also know she was in the Special Forces. But, a lot of it is rather blank. I'd even love to learn more about how she and David met. That sounds like a very good storyline.
I wouldn't mind learning more about Raenne's background. I know she was sexually abused by her fath