[This story will be posted in full after the Challenge for those of us that like to read everything in one complete telling,]
ASSAULT – Tuesday Midday
Appalling abrasions are more than I expected from the headlines – Another Aberdaron Assault.
But not from our photos.
I wince. Muscles clench. Concentrate.
The victim’s face shows signs of deep scratches like claws as well as multiple angry bruises as if he was beaten up. More than the two bloodied and black eyes. Arms. Shoulders. Legs. Aggravated assault.
He is asleep. Or worse. Breathe.
Has he regained consciousness, doctor?”
“Not since he was brought in, Detective Anwyl. We treated his injuries as best we could, but he remains in this coma. I will inform NWP when he regains consciousness.”
Another Aberdaron Assault. Those attention-grabbing headlines missed that detail. The reporter ran with ‘second man found assaulted on the beach at Aberdaron’. But even the North Wales Police has minimal information. Two unidentified athletic men in their twenties sprawled comatose on Aberdaron beach.
“And the other victim?”
The doctor gestures across the corridor where a Police Community Support Officer is stationed.
“The same. They’ve both received serious blows to the head.”
I nod. Amnesia when they regain consciousness is my fear. “Where are their clothes?”
He points to a neat pile on the shelf. “Your forensic team examined them, I believe. Removed some. Ask the senior nurse if you need additional medical information. I have more patients requiring my attention.”
The doctor leaves. Little I can do here until the two men regain consciousness. My tattoos are tingling.
A for Aggravated Assault and Attire.
Clothes. Nothing unusual. Except the jeans have a dark stain. Blood? Darker – the colour of my biking leathers. Black. Tar? Although forensics will have removed any evidence, I need to visit the crime scene at Aberdaron. Bike across to the end of the Llŷn Peninsula. Find what I can. This was aggravated assault and my tattoos confirm my suspicions. What connects these two men?
I finger my bracer, tapping on its studs. A for Assault. C for Coma. F for Forensics. E for Evidence. T for Tar. FACET or FATE.
Clench my teeth. I must control my future – my life.
The PCSO relaxes as I approach. “I was hoping another female officer would be assigned to the case. Some of our male colleagues demand too much.”
“Agree. I just need you to watch both victims while I investigate – and report anything suspicious to me.” I hand her my card. “Or my partner – her number is on the back.”
Outside Bangor hospital, I check-in with the case’s supervisory officer, Detective Sergeant V Kamatchi Pillai.
Breathe slowly. Deep. Remain professional – like she does so well.
“Both victims are still unconscious. The doctor will inform us when they are awake.”
A sigh. Perhaps a smile.
“But you have a hunch, Sparkle. Your tattoos again?”
I smile. Kama knows me so well. Her voice is as dark and sultry as her looks. My blood races. I close my eyes. Focus on the case not my lover.
“Yes. I’m going to Aberdaron. To the crime scene – to the beach.”
Not our special Morfa Bychan beach. But later.
Aberdaron Beach, Gwynedd, looking towards Porth Meudwy – author: Skinsmoke https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Skinsmoke
For further details on this theme visit my Blogging from A to Z Theme Reveal, and on the evolution of Sparkle Anwyl visit Snowdon Shadows.
Other A to Z Bloggers can be found via the Blogging from A to Z website’s Master List –
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2019/03/link-to-view-master-list-and.html
^*^
And now for something completely different.
“Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.”
William Congreve – The Mourning Bride
Writing Wings 
I like it. Very vivid. I like the fragmented narration 🙂
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I was trying to find a style, Sarah that worked with first person POV – deep POV.
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Hi Roland! Ah, crime fiction! I see it’s part of your existing universe. Looking forward to seeing how it goes on.
My theme for this year is SF and fantasy.
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Same universe as you noticed, Sue. It keeps me focused when life/health distracts me. I will visit your theme ASAP.
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It’s a great start – captures your interest, but I should warn you, I’m really bad at keeping up with blogs who blog A to Z through a story!
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I totally sympathise, Jemima – and feel I should have done just the music at the end. Too much writing and too much reading is an A to Z fail.
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Ann V Friend visiting from The AtoZ Challenge! Blessings✨
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Blessings to you and yours, Ann.
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Thank you Roland!
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Hi Roland, it’s been a while. It’s so good to reconnect. I loved your piece and I can feel the suspense and tension. It’s vivid and evocative. I have the same problem one of your other readers mentioned — I suck at following A to Z blog posts that have to be read consecutively—daily. She just said it with a bit more elegance than I did, LOL. I always make a point of following daily, but then I get lost in the shuffle of trying to follow new people and reply to and read the people who visit my blog and it gets so chaotic. I will try again this year, but just know in advance I’m really not good at it. I mean I love reading your work, I’m just terrible at following any kind of schedule for blog reading and commenting.
It really was terrific reconnecting and I hope we stay in touch.
Melissa @
Sugar Crime Scene
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Hi Melissa, I totally understand as A to Z gets too difficult in that respect, I aim to blog the whole story after the Challenge is over. I follow another Brit writer who does shorts in parts and he does a complete post at the end – a great help.
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I wonder what attacked them. Should be interesting.
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Intriguing, Liz so I may have you hooked.
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wow, that was rather enjoyable, looking forward to the next section.
bridginasauthorpageat.wordpress.com
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Glad you enjoyed it, Bridgina. Hope you’ll stay.
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Ooh, great start – I am intrigued. Can’t wait to find out more.
Tasha
Tasha’s Thinkings – Ghost Stories
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Glad it intrigued you, Tasha. Hope it keeps working for you. (I’m working on S today.)
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Love it! I can’t wait to read more. And those tattoos — fascinating!
Ronel visiting from the A-Z Challenge with Music and Writing All the A’s
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More coming your way, Ronel. T for Tattoos – well just writing T so might work on an explanation. They are backstory though – dating back to her teens – and detailed in other shorts.
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Great start Roland. I’m a great fan of using A-Z to tell an on-going story, so I’ll be visiting regularly – if not daily – to keep up. And yeah – fascinated by the tattoos 🙂
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I’m grateful to those who will read long posts like this. And tattoos are craving an explanation – but not a diatribe.
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It’s a distant cry from the type of reading or writing I do, but I’m going to see where this goes! Got to catch up now!
AtoZ Challenge
Maine Vanity Plate Poetry
Mainely Write
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Welcome, Donna and I hope that you have a fun read.
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Glad to make my way here today, and I’ll be reading through the posts to pay catchup now. Looking forward to following the tale.
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Great to have you here, Deborah. Enjoy the mystery.
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