With Time Comes Pain

[Danny]

Zagreb, Croatia
2255hrs

Yawn...Kristian took a long sip of his coffee before taking a heavy sigh. He looked left and right, rather bored out of his mind wondering what to do. As he looked down his vest and shirt, he read the words in his mind 'Policija' in bold letters and dashed with yellow colour. He took another glance at his arm patch as well. Kristian was young and always craved adventure, that's why he joined the Police. He was just fresh out of the academy and on his second probationary patrol with his older and experienced tutor Dario. Dario had seen it all, he joined the Milicija in 1989, before the formation of the Policija when the process of Croatia becoming independent from Yugoslavia began. With Dario's experience in the Yugoslav Wars, it made him battle hardened and rather strong on the outside. But it in the inside, it had broken him.

Kristian was a bit afraid of Dario, young and enthusiastic to get onto streets of Zagreb his first shift with Dario was quiet, strict and temperamental at times. Asking far too many questions had led to Dario raising his temper at once which made Kristian a bit uneasy around him. Though Kristian did not know, it had reminded Dario of times when he was once happy, young and cheerful. As the two sat within their Skoda patrol vehicle, Kristian turned towards Dario who was looking out the window who had been staring blankly outside for the past ten minutes.

"Urm, Dar-Dario?" Kristian murmured.

"Hm." Replied Dario, not moving a muscle.

"I, ur got your coffee." Kristian had replied. He looked nervous, afraid Dario may become tad annoyed with him.

Dario sighed, knowing he had to get this kid trained and ready for the streets at some point. He didn't want the job to babysit as he sees it, but he got it anyway.

Turning around to face the younger officer, Dario grabbed his coffee and took a large gulp of it. His moustache bristled with cream as he placed it back in his cup holder. Dario sighed once more. "Kid, these streets...you gotta be prepared y'know?" He wiped the cream off his moustache as he continued. "Always have to keep your eye open."

Kristian nodded, rather excited that he was finally getting somewhere with Dario and some notes. Before he could reply, their radios brightened up. "Control to...Three-Eight-Alpha-Zulu over?"

Dario sighed, he'd of rather be lost in his thoughts once more then respond to a job. Kristian however was the opposite. "Three-Eight-Alpha-Zulu, go ahead control?" Replied Kristian rather excited inside. He did contain it from the likes of Dario.

"Yeah, got a job for you now. Reports of a fight between three to four males on er- Ul. Eugena Kumičića." There was a pause, before the dispatcher continued. "Caller reports of loud shouting and fighting in the middle of the road near the Quatric Apartments. Caller states she can't identify the males other then dark clothing, but is unsure due to the broken street lights which is making it hard to identify them all. No weapons have been sighted by the caller. Calls been marked Emergency Grade, I'm showing you guys nearby, so you're attached. If you need additionals, call up and i'll attach further."

"All received from Three-Eight-Alpha-Zulu, show us responding." Kristian couldn't hide his beaming smile as he let go of his radio, he turned to Dario who grunted in silence. Flicking the switch to turn the lights and sirens on, he made a steady but a rapid pace through the dark streets of Zagreb.

***​

As they turned onto Ul. Eugena Kumičića, Kristian noticed most of the street lights were out. The streets were silent as the lights beamed through the different buildings on the street, as they went further past the apartments a body was in the middle of the road. Grinding their vehicle to a halt, Kristian's facial expression quickly changed as he froze in his seat.

​

Dario grabbed his cap as he turned to Kristian. "Keep your eye out kid. Don't know if they're still here."

Kristian nodded as he followed Dario exiting the car. Their patrol car was still on, in which the headlights were fixed on the body. The body was facing away from them, so they were unaware if he was still alive or dead. As the two officers made a slow walk towards the unidentified body, Dario took out his torch and turned it on as he trained it towards the man whilst Kristian was struggling to keep his mind in check. As they finally was closer towards the body, Dario moved the body onto his back.

He was dead.

Two bullet holes in his chest, one in his forehead and his neck was sliced from end to end.

Kristian took a heavy breath, he was struggling to keep his sick in his mouth. This was his first body.

"Kid, call it in.." Dario took a quick inspection of the man. It was clear he was Jewish due to his skullcap on his head, roughly in his 60s and was well off from the clothes he wore. The mans eyes were wide open and blood had covered his mouth and beard alongside on the road.

"Kid? Call it in." Dario turned to Kristian who was completely frozen, as Dario replied a third time he snapped out of his stance and Kristian nodded as he grabbed his radio.

Whilst Kristian informed the control room and requested more units, Dario turned back towards the body. Something caught his eye, it was a card that was tucked in neatly into the mans shirt. Dario grabbed it as he inspected what he saw. It was a large dark coloured U and in the middle of the U was a circle and inside was the shield of Croatia whilst on the top was a red flame. Dario froze himself for a second as he instantly knew what this logo was. Kristian finished his radio communication as he was still holding in his vomit.

"Wh-what's that?" Kristian asked

"Trouble." Dario remarked.

 

[Danny]

Zagreb, Croatia
0134hrs

---

A heavy sigh came from Detective Franko Boškovic. Commonly known as Boško, he was glorified as the best Detective within the Policija's Murder Squad. Solving over thirty murder cases in a four year period, Boško was seen as the man to get the job done and was always with the cameras, though behind the scenes that was his boss wanting to show off Murder Squads abilities to the country. Boško was a veteran of the Croatian War of Independence rising to the rank of Nadnarednik (Senior Sergeant) and with his experience and knowledge from the war was taken to Law Enforcement. Though, Boško wasn't concerned about that now. He was more annoyed, irritated and tired as he had been woken up in the middle of the night on the night before his holiday to Greece with his wife and kids. The dream of hot, relaxing and enjoyable family holiday all faded away when the call came in an hour ago. His wife rather upset that once again, his duty calls before family. He stayed strong, however inside his heart hurt that he couldn't spend time with his family and he evidently needed to make it right.

As he drove his Skoda Octavia through the streets of Zagreb, his thoughts played on his mind. Was he ready to give up the job loved the most so he can spend time with his family?

Eventually, his mind snapped out of it as he was greeted to a younger male response officer on the cordon. As the officer approached his car, he flashed his Policija warrant card which the Officer simply nodded and pulled the tape up to let his car through. Finding a eventual parking space, the whole street was littered with flashing blue and red lights. Policija, Ambulance and Forensics were here. As he sat in his car for a moment, he quickly scanned the area where he had spotted a large forensic tent in the middle of the road whilst their were Policija officials doing various tasks around the area. Sighing once more, he exited his car and grabbed his flask which was filled with hot and warm coffee.

It was a warm summer evening, so Boško had decided just to simply wear a plain navy T shirt and some jeans. He placed his warrant card onto his lanyard so he could be easily identified as Policija officer. He looked up once as a voice crept up from behind.

"You took your time." The voice remarked, rather sarcastically.

Boško turned around, it was his boss Detective Inspektor Pavic. Boško grunted at the sight of him. Pavic was a old school Policija, always by the book he says or says. Boško took one look up and down of his boss who wore a brown suit, dark yellow shirt with a patterned brown tie. He looked at Pavic as his he could see he was tired as Boško was, the job probably took a toll on him Boško thought as he lost his hair on the top and from the sides and back it was all frail and grey, alongside his lightly coloured grey moustache. Maybe Boško was right on why he never faced the camera.

"Looking pleasant as always boss...anyhow hit me with details, we'll walk and talk." Boško replied, the two began to walk to the forensic tent as Boško took eventual gulps of his coffee.

"64 years of age, names Matheux Dubois. Two GSWs to the chest, one to the head and throat slit from end to end, he was found dead by two Response cops who were called to a fight. Dubois born in France to two Jew parents, came to Croatia in 72' and helped setup the community we have today. Prominent businessman and well known in Zagreb." He paused as the two entered the tent, as Pavic continued to give description of the incident, Boško took one good look at the body as two Forensic officers took photographs for evidence. Before Pavic could continue, Boško took him outside of the tent.

"Why i'm I here Ivan? I'm suppose to be on leave and you have many Murder Squad Detectives available, but the way you sounded on the phone made it sound so important. This just has hallmarks of the Abramović Crime Family in which anybody could solve." Boško spoke harshly towards his superior

"Woah woah, calm down. You didn't let me finish." Pavic paused as he handed over the card with the logo found on Dubois's body. "This, this is what was found on the body."

Boško took a good look at the card, he became even more irritated. "Ustaša? Are you serious Ivan? They ended years after the Second World War. For all we know this could just be wannabe fanatics or someone using this to throw us off the real scent."

Pavic was clearly becoming annoyed that Boško was talking down to him, as he replied. "Boškovic, number one stop talking back to me. Number two, let me finish..." He paused "Witnesses say they heard them shout their famous motto a couple of times. It was quite dark and as no gunshots were heard we think they used silencers. But what was the intrigued me is the motto and I think we may have a case here."

Boško sighed, inside he was starting to feel low and really unappreciated. "If you think it's Ustaša, then have you informed Anti Terror?" Boško replied.

"Not yet, that's why I've called the best man for the job." Pavic replied, smirked.

A short silence followed, Pavic quickly noticed his subordinate was becoming less impressed. "Boško, you're the best man for the job...This could be the breakthrough for your career and for sure it's going to get you a higher ranks. You've been our best officer to date Boško and I think this murder is definitely linked to something far more sinister."

Boško sighed, he nodded slightly agreeing that he'll take the case on. "GREAT!" Pavic remarked smiling, he gave Boško a friendly but hard pat on the back as he disappeared into the Zagreb night. Boško stood alone as a lot of action was going on around him, taking another look at the card.

***​

Northern Zagreb,
0210hrs

---

In a small derelict house, twenty men sat around a table within the main living room. One man stood up as quietness fell within the room. The man had a scorpion tattoo on his face, one of his eye was covered red with bloodshot. He wore military fatigues as he began to speak with eventual pauses.

"Brothers! Today, we struck our first blow. A damaging and crushing blow towards the scoundrels the inflict distaste and filth in our great country. But that was only our first step for our goal, our goal for a better and free Croatia as our grandfathers wanted in 1941!" Cheers would follow, followed by silence. "Ustaša will rise again my brothers! It may take days, weeks even years to get rid of the filth that lay within our nation. Those in power allow the filth to roam.. allow them to take what is deserved for our Croat blood brothers and sisters, they forget who they are as they bow down to the Serb and Jewish masters. But no more! It is time to reclaim Croatia and as I said earlier, it's just the start."

The man paused, as the flipped a board containing pictures of several people. He began to go through each person.

He pointed first towards a section of Croatian targets. "These people have committed grave crimes against the great nation of Croatia and in retribution they will face execution. Remember their faces. Remember who they are and remember they are traitors." He pointed to the first picture. "No doubt, this one is going to try to claim the fame by going after us."

The picture was Detective Franko Boškovic.