The decaying muck that sucked at Detective Sergeant Franklin Martin's shoes and the rotting garbage smell were not what upset him.Strangely, the seagulls were the ones who really got to him.The scavengers wheeled above his head and screamed, fought, and swooped, just like the animal who had used this as a personal dump. They were at home in the decaying, decaying trash.In order to get a better look at Clinton 's battered body, he moved.Franklin 's worst fears were confirmed by the young homeless teenager's disappearance two weeks earlier.He had been taken, looked like he had been tortured, and then beaten to death.That should never happen to anyone, especially a 16-year-old.Both Clinton 's life and death had been difficult.Franklin deliberately focused because he was overwhelmed by guilt over being late.Leaving as trash for the gulls and rats said little about the value of a life.However, it revealed a lot about the perpetrators.Clinton had been left out in the open, where the worke

Chapter 2

A family of evil/Stanley

He thought about what Lukehad said as he put the main course and dessert into the oven.Franklin had examined it from all angles, but he could only see this as his only option.He recalled the six-year-old boys who had been caught smoking cannabis when he was a Constable.Their educator had detailed them expecting to run an intercession.Clinton was one of three children in a family whose mother's new boyfriend thought they would benefit from using his baseball bat for practice.They'd been locked out of the house at times and had to spend the night with the trash in the small shed at the back.He once found them tied up like dogs and hungry.He helped them through the three-year legal battle against their parents.Instead of assistance and direction, they had come to anticipate abuse and neglect.Franklin had won their trust by being in the right place at the wrong time, despite the three drawbacks of being an adult, a man, and a police officer.Despite the fact that he was a police officer,

Chapter 3

A family of evil/Stanley

He loaded the dishwasher when he got home and gave his kitchen a final look.The house had already begun to deteriorate when he bought it.It required all of his weekends and holidays for a year, as well as the assistance of his entire extended Croatian family, particularly two retired uncles who were handymen and were looking for work.But he adored his old house in the federation style, loved the three-sided veranda, the wooden Kauri floors, and the French doors that led out onto the veranda.The kitchen, which he had designed specifically, was well-designed and easy to use.When he first started, the garden was almost like a jungle.He could sit on the veranda without seeing any people or automobiles because it shielded him from the neighbors while he had trimmed it back.Perfect for a policeman who needed a break.The rash promise he had made to himself that he would run every morning after cooking dinner for others was not nearly as satisfying.He was supposed to get back in shape throug

Chapter 4

A family of evil/Stanley

He thought about what Lukehad said as he put the main course and dessert into the oven.Franklin had examined it from all angles, but he could only see this as his only option.He recalled the six-year-old boys who had been caught smoking cannabis when he was a Constable.Their educator had detailed them expecting to run an intercession.Clinton was one of three children in a family whose mother's new boyfriend thought they would benefit from using his baseball bat for practice.They'd been locked out of the house at times and had to spend the night with the trash in the small shed at the back.He once found them tied up like dogs and hungry.He helped them through the three-year legal battle against their parents.Instead of assistance and direction, they had come to anticipate abuse and neglect.Franklin had won their trust by being in the right place at the wrong time, despite the three drawbacks of being an adult, a man, and a police officer.Despite the fact that he was a police officer,

Chapter 5

A family of evil/Stanley

He loaded the dishwasher when he got home and gave his kitchen a final look.The house had already begun to deteriorate when he bought it.It required all of his weekends and holidays for a year, as well as the assistance of his entire extended Croatian family, particularly two retired uncles who were handymen and were looking for work.But he adored his old house in the federation style, loved the three-sided veranda, the wooden Kauri floors, and the French doors that led out onto the veranda.The kitchen, which he had designed specifically, was well-designed and easy to use.When he first started, the garden was almost like a jungle.He could sit on the veranda without seeing any people or automobiles because it shielded him from the neighbors while he had trimmed it back.Perfect for a policeman who needed a break.The rash promise he had made to himself that he would run every morning after cooking dinner for others was not nearly as satisfying.He was supposed to get back in shape throug

Chapter 6

A family of evil/Stanley

Johnson had anticipated that the compound would be pitch-black and eerie as she returned to her dorm from the shower block later that evening, but instead, bright spotlights illuminated each pathway.She paused to observe.During the day, the bush made road noise with the chirping of cicadas, but at night, the bush was alive as well.Rustling in the undergrowth, the occasional whistle screech of Kiwis, the call of Morepork, and the constant humming of opossums in the trees as they landed on the buildings' roofs with a little thuddingOnly a city girl would consider them adorable and furry because they were pests.While so many bad things took place below, she took in the dense roof of stars above and marveled at the breathless beauty.She had learned that the dorms had nightlights on all the time to calm the many people who were afraid of the dark.Many of them had hidden fears for the night.After making her way back into her dorm, Johnson settled into her bottom bunk.Teenage girls changing

Chapter 7

A family of evil/Stanley

Douglas examined her face with a raised head.She held his eyes then, at that point, proceeded with her story. "I guess I had a pretty good upbringing in comparison to what I've seen here today because my father brought us to Australia.But a year ago, I got a house from someone I didn't know.The only thing I knew was that the house looked like someone lived there.I immediately recognized that.My husband thought....Well, he didn't think I didn't know who had given it to me.It made issues for ourselves and I wound up moving into the house all alone.Sadly, I was unaware at the time that a different person had keys.He also began following me.It went on for a long time, and he would have killed me. I could have died.Still finding it difficult to talk about it, she shivered.I had two friends at this point.Johnnie, a neighbor of mine, was one.Johnnie, who used to be a police officer, persuaded me to report it.My life was saved by his advice.She smiled as she gave Johnnie a look."You're doing

Chapter 8

A family of evil/Stanley

"Is this okay with you boys?"Yes, that's cool!Stewart, look at what we learned.'A couple bowed and moved onto the ground. 'See?If we roll, we don't get hurt.'The partners of others flipped over their partners' legs.And if we are attacked, we can defend ourselves!Look!”Then came more demonstrations.Stewart laughed out loud.Although it is not exactly what we planned to do this afternoon, I suppose it is quite practical.Okay, continue.I will send you a few volunteers to assist.'Before turning and returning over the hill, he stood and watched for some time.Johnson smiled when he saw Johnnie's eyes.After giving a wink, he returned his focus to one of the bigger boys.That's pathetic, you big girl's blouse!'That night, Johnson learned that rolling on stones and bumps is covered up by concentration until the bruises show up later.She groaned as she scrubbed off the dirt and dust, but she was thankful for the hot shower.She had bruises on her hip, buttock, and left side of her back.She fea

Chapter 9

A family of evil/Stanley

"Okay, halt!"She felt Douglas 's hands on her shoulders, and he quickly turned her around three times, leaving her feeling a little shaky and lost.Presently take the blindfold off and return us to camp.'When Johnson removed the blindfold, she realized that she was not only unaware of her location but also of the camp's direction.But I'm not sure where....'Not wanting to disappoint Douglas , she was frantically scanning the area around her.And to her surprise, the tree she had felt along the way was there.Similar to what she had done while blindfolded, she walked over to the tree and touched its bark.She was certain that it was the Johnson e tree.She observed the ground's downward slope as she looked around.She made her way to the bottom of the slope because she remembered going up a slope with increasing excitement.She didn't know whether Douglas was going in the right direction as he silently followed her.She looked around again for the leaves she had felt.Vulnerability overwhelme

Chapter 10

A family of evil/Stanley

They crossed the road, walked into the reception area and showed their IDs to the receptionist who looked way too young to be sitting in reception. Franklin wondered why she wasn’t still at school and, she had on too much make-up. He asked to see Ken Watters and mentally prepared himself for the coming interview. At this rate, he’d go straight for the jugular. God, he hated people who took advantage! And when it came to kids, even if they were tall, 16-year-olds, they were still kids. They had a right…‘Can I help you?’The voice spun him around and he stopped. The man facing him was of solid build, ruddy faced with grey hair and was Franklin guessed, in his sixties. He was wearing a pale blue shirt with Auckland Steel embroidered on the pocket. Franklin guessed that this was not the man he was looking for. The receptionist was not as young or as empty-headed as he had assumed, this was obviously one of the Managers. He stepped forward, his badge out in front of him and introduced