Equestrian Justice: Steel Law Chronicles

Just under twenty-one hours after the death of Fandango.

Paperwork. Paperwork. Paperwork. The vast majority of my job was paper work.

Damn I hated it.

My office in the Manehatten Police Station was small. Hardly fit my desk in here. Manila folders and paper were littered on the damn thing. I arrested a lot of ponies, but it was more then that. Everything got put through the system, for high profile murders, to warnings. I had a hell of time keeping track of my shit, but it was part of the job.

My cigarette calmed my raising temper.

The desk lamp sitting to my side flickered. Damn thing always needed batteries.

The smoke of my cigarette gave the room a slight fog.

How many of the damn things had I already burned through? I gave up counting individual cigarettes long ago. I was still curious though.

Three knocks on my door, slow, even placed knocks, steady.

Bum Bum Bum

"You in there Steel?"

Winter Guard. Dark blue mane, slightly less dark fur, solid build. Good Stallion. Made Sheriff after I took the promotion to Enforcer. We had been good friends, made a hell of a partner too. Sadly, once I became an Enforcer, we didn't see each other much. He's got a wife and three fillies.

He pushed my door open with a hoof, poking his head in.

Funny, I remember when her first got married, started talking about having kids. Really wanted a colt. Funny how that works.

"Yea, just finishing up some paperwork."

"Mind if I borrow some of your time?" I could see the lack of sleep in his eyes. I would have bet he could see the same-thing when he looked at me.

"Not at all." I leaned back in my chair, giving one last breath from my cigarette before mashing it into the ashtray. Half the thing was still there, but I didn't want to blow smoke in Winter's face.

He shut the door behind him.

"This... thing with Fandango. I don't like Steel. It reeks like week old fish and milk left in the sun."

"Why?"

"Suicide.... Fandango? Doesn't fit. But even then... there's more to it. Been working in this town for a long time. You know that. I got a feeling... and I don't like it."

"I feel the same way, but I have to do what the evidence tells me. And the evidence says suicide, maybe accident but that's pushing it.” I lied to my best friend's face.

“I know, I read through the case file. You're good at your job Steel. If there is anything up with case... I'm sure you'll be the one to figure it out.”

“I'll see what I can. Do what I can.”

“That's just my two bits. Take care of yourself Steel.”

“Get some rest and hug your kids. Tell the wife I said hello.”

“Oh, and by the way. Word is the Deputy Mayor is on her way and she's out for blood. Keep your head down, and I'd open a window you're not supposed to smoke inside now, remember?”

I nudged my ashtray into my desk drawer. “What are talking about, I don't smoke.”

Winter gave a chuckle as he trotted out the door. I returned to my paperwork.

Worked for a few hours. Interrupted only when the Ass aiming for my job decided to cut in. The Deputy Mayor never showed.

“Gettin' late Law. Might want to get home.” Stone Grinder. Shit brown mane and gravel gray hide. He was a good cop, but that doesn't make him less of an asshole.

I just ignored him, that usually makes him go away.

“That's right... you ain't got much of a life to get home to huh?... have a good night Law.”

Asshole.

Made my way home after a few more hours pass. It was well into the night. Or early in the morning, whichever you prefer.

The night was cold. A bitter rain fell from the sky. The trot home was colder... and lonely. Not that I ever minded. The town was a dark dull gray. Showered by a downpour of rain. Been raining the better part of three days. I wondered how long this rain would last. The Manehatten streets, these streets at least, were quiet. The only things awake around me were the street lights, guiding me home...

Some would say my apartment was small, or shitty. That because it was. It was literally both those things. Two rooms. Bathroom, and everything else. The rats and cockroaches fought over who got to shit where. The peeling wallpaper and stained “hard”wood floor greeted me as they always did.

The heater for my floor was broken, so it was as cold as a witch's teat. I could see my breath. An icy day and a colder night made my room feel frosty.

Hung up my coat by the door, and undid my tie.

Hung my uniform and hat on the same hanger I always did.

By my mattress, hanging off the ground so my “roommates” couldn't get at it.

Felt my body shiver, pressed a button on my coffee maker.

Lit up a cigarette.

Gave a deep breath on that cigarette.

Alone.

In the darkness of my crap-hole apartment. I thought about what I had done.

The only light came from the coffee maker's dim red on switch. And my cigarette. I could still see. My eyes already adjusted to the dark.

I murdered a living being.

Too much of a shit to be more than that.

Refused to call a monster like that a pony. He was just that. A monster. A monster I ended. Yet... if the truth came out, I'd be the one going to jail. Nopony would argue that. I'd go to jail. A corrupt cop abusing his power is all they will see.

A trial would be wasted. When I get caught. And, I had already accepted that I eventually would, I was as good as dead. I needed to keep the law off my back for as long as I could.

I already had a plan. Once the department realizes that everypony I would kill was linked, I'd take the reigns of the case. Chase myself. Be the serial killer I was hunting. I planed to be very difficult to catch, drag it out as long as I could before somepony got wise to my scheme.

The coffee maker beeped. The hot cup warmed me up.

Prepped the coffee maker for tomorrow.

Dusted off my mattress.

Laid down under thick sheets.

Not sure if one could call what I got sleep, but it was close enough.

Woke up before my alarm could try to wake me up.

Still cold.

Still raining outside.

After the morning routine, I was suited up to get to work early.

My telephone gave ring, stopping me before I reached the door. Forgot to unhook the damn thing.

I answered solely on good manner.

“Steel Law? This is Deputy Mayor Blue Velvet.” Blue Velvet was the mare who got things done for the Manehatten local government. The mayor was just a damned figure-head. She knew it, the town knew it. But still she was the Deputy Mayor. Hell of a system.

“Hello Deputy Mayor, I was about to leave to the station so if you don't mind I'm just going to hang up now.”

“Wait. I need you here. Now.” A odd thing to say. She and I really never got along. My tendency to... rough up ponies really piled on the paperwork for her.

We met once in the past. Before either of us had the jobs we have now, I was a rookie cop, first week on the job, third day to be exact. My partner and I found her and a group of her friends drunk. Threw them all in the drunk tank. She cleaned up her act, and enter city government not long after.

“I'm afraid I don't understand ma'am.”

“There is... it's bad. I want you on this. I need you to solve this.” Her voice was worried, panicked.

“Calm down, what are you talking about?”

“It's re-real...” it sounded like she took a step away, I heard a gag, then a splatter. She must have vomited.

“It's bad. Get to Metric Avenue, Lot 42-A now. Please.” she finished.

She hung up.

Pulled my coat's collar up, lit a cigarette, and stepped out the door.

The roads were shut. They were telling ponies it was due to the rain.

Way too many police for it to be inclement weather.

Once I got past the security lines. I could smell... what I thought was metal. What I hoped was metal.

I knew the smell well enough to know it wasn't metal.

That didn't stop me from sending a prayer up to Celestia.

The coroner's wagon and several officials in black at an alley entrance confirmed my suspicions.

Even through the rain. I could recognize the scent of blood.

I began to trot for the alley, where the crime scene was. Luckily Lot 42-A was mostly abandoned.

I saw Blue Velvet, she looked pale.

Winter Guard stopped me with a hoof, I hadn't seen him before hoof. He was just as pale.

“It's bad Steel. Real bad.”

I offered him a cigarette.

“ Heh... No thanks... brace yourself.”

I continued my trot forward.

This time Blue Velvet stopped me. Her mane was full of fly away hairs. Her suit looked ragged. It was still early morning. I doubt she got sleep the night before.

“I need you to find out who did this.”

“I'll see what I can do ma'am.”

“You better Law, we need to keep this under wraps.”

I gave a nod and kept moving. Finally turning the corner, bumping slightly into a coroner who just looked on with a terribly sad expression.

The scene was bad. Worse then I expected. Much worse.

The crime scene was in the alley between the allies, which almost perfectly blocked nearly all of the rain. What was once a pony was now a display. The body was split down the middle bloody meat and rib bones set on display, and strung up posed like Celestia raising the sun... Only with much more gore. The intestine dressed the corpse like wings, most other organs were separated and organized. None of the organs were inside of the body. It was even skinned, the skin and fur were separated from the meat of the corpse. Blood was all over everything. Organs and viscera were spread out along the alley floor.

I immediately noticed three things.

One, the body had no head. At all. It was gone.

Two, there was no heart. Also gone.

And three, these organs were... arranged oddly. Couldn't tell right off. Had a hunch though, just couldn't tell at this angle. Had to get a different angle on this.

The crime scene analyzers were already doing their job.

I moved back, and turned for the entrance of the neighboring building.

“Law! Steel Law! Where are you going!” Blue Velvet shouted.

Didn't answer, this was more important. Dire I know as fast as I could.

I tried the front door of the building just to the right of the alley. Locked.

“Steel Law! Answer me! Damn it! What are you doing!”

"My job." I replied in a voice for a normal conversation.

I rammed into the door, bashing the whole thing down. Continued on my way.

“What the fuck! What the fuck is wrong you!”

Didn't reply, didn't even acknowledge her voice. Kept going, moving toward the stair case.

Heard Winter's voice.

“Calm down Dem. He has a hunch. Just let him do his thing.” Dem, D.M. For Deputy Mayor.

“Don't you fucking dare tell me to fucking calm the fuck down! Fucking damn it! STEEL LAW!”

Kept going, moved up the stairs. About half way, I heard angry hoof stomps chasing behind me.

Made it to the roof. Trotted quickly to over look the alley. I was right.

Her stomping splashed in the rain.

“FUCKING STEEL FUCKING LAW I AM GOING TO-”

I cut her off by gesturing toward the crime scene.

She followed my pointing hoof with an angry look.

She gasped and had to take a few steps back.

I lit up a new cigarette.

The word “war” was spelled out using the organs. One just had to look from a particular downward angle. This roof top was perfect.

The rest of the day seemed to peter out. The press was told that the area was flooded. But the strict security called out the hounds of the media. Once Blue Velvet got herself cleaned up, and painted her face. She was good to make a public appearance and pushed away the rabid media.

I returned to my office and awaited the file. Looked like I wasn't the only killer on the loose.

War.... I spent a solid hour contemplating one word.

War.

What war?

Equestria hadn't been at war with anything in literal ages.

The war on crime?

The war on drugs?

War. Fighting. Death. Murder. Chaos... what did it mean.

My desk phone lit up.

I answer normally.

“What do you need.”

“Mr. Law. There is a mare here to see you.”

“I'm busy.”

“No you're not, the appointment is set for... five minutes ago.”

“Something came up.”

“Bu-but you're just in your office.”

“I was just about to leave. Forget it.”

“Ye-Yes sir!”

I hung up the phone. Lunch was a good hour ago, and I wasn't really hungry, but I thought a smoke and a walk might clear my head.

I left the station, made sure to give the front desk worker a glare as I left.

As I took a step on to the curb, she called out to me.

“Mr. Law?” I didn't recognize the voice.

I turned. Looked to the source of the sound. That mare... Vinyl Scratch. Hidden inside a trench coat, and dull, faded clothing.

“It is you. You're a hard stallion to find.”

“Leave now.” I didn't need this.

“You really... helped me out.” she smiled sweetly.

“Not here, not now. Ideally not ever.” I really didn't want to deal with this.

“But-”

“But nothing, this is the first time we've met alright.”

“I get it.” she gave me a sad smile. Damn. Still a sucker for a mare's sad smile. Call it chivalry.

I gave a heavy sigh. “Wanna chat, give me a call. We can talk later, but not now.” I slid her my card.

She grinned, then trotted off.

I knew right away, that whole situation was going to get bad.

I returned to my office after a cold walk in the rain.

Now... I knew I had to wait. But I need to pick a target on my list. I had a lot of targets in mind.

Coin Flip. Notorious child molester. Only he was son of Cash Chip, who owns a popular casino in Manehatten. They had money and it kept Flip out of jail, and out of reach from the law. It wouldn't save him from my hooves.