1
Just like earlier, the traffic was low heading back into the city of Preston. Royce should have rushed back, but he was in a numbed state.
He was functioning with a clear goal, but everything just felt out of whack. His wife was kidnapped, and he faced her kidnapper, the man they were hunting, and he just let him fly away in control, they even conversed.
He has this media card that he had to check before anything else. He then realised he had even checked his home. Maybe Alyssa left him a clue.
He took a sharp right and went to CopLand.
2
Royce got to his front door, and he opened it slowly. Royce knew good and well that the fact his front door was locked meant that nothing had truly disturbed inside. A kidnapping would have had some disarray inside, but as he opened and entered his abode was how he left it earlier in the day.
He walked around and checked every room. Nothing displaced. Everything unmoved.
He must have taken her when she was out. Alyssa liked to walk when she was frustrated. She could walk for hours. That's when he got her.
CopLand was not just white picket fences and big lawns. This part of the city was within walking distance of a national park, so there was for people to walk their troubles away. Cops needed a place to walk to think, feel beauty, feel something other than the bureaucracy of the job or the horrors of it. He walked like she did. There was nothing better than a long walk when troubles formed in your mind. Cops needed that. So did she.
Royce shook his head as he went into their bedroom. He saw a pen and pad on their bed. All that was written on it was
I'm sorry, Royce
Royce gulped and shook off that feeling for fear. He had to maintain that whatever she had to apologise for, she would do it to him in person and alive.
He went into his office and switched on his computer. As he waited for that to load up he looked at the media card and wondered what was on it.
The computer was up and running and put the Media Card in a USB adapter and slotted in and one file came up on the file explorer. Named The Night, the media file was clicked as soon as it was opened.
It was shaky footage taken on a phone, started in some bushes.
Must be Pinkman Royce thought.
Pinkman went past some bushes and voice could be heard.
'Open them up.' came the familiar voice of Oliver Harris, who walked into frame.
The area was lit by overhead floodlights. This was a private air strip and looked north as Royce could see some light reflecting off some water.
The river. Possibly North Harbour.
He walked up to a man with a black wet back slicked hair, a finely cut and shaped black beard and long black leather jacket. 'You don't trust the merchandise?' the man said with a vaguely eastern-European accent, Royce wanted to say Russian , but also that would be generalising that Russian held the monopoly on this type of trade when that was not the case.
'There were faulty guns the last time.' Oliver suggested.
'Cause you bought them from a competitor. These are some of the finest weapons made in Europe.' The slicked back man said. 'Lemme ask you a question.'
Oliver watched his men, men with Grey cloaks and hoods enter frame with crowbars. 'Long as it is not a stupid one.'
'Okay. This is the land of guns, there are more guns than people here. Why not get your guns from across your country?'
'Because, my slovak friend, you are cheaper for the amount of guns we need. Here guns and money leave a trail. With you,'
'I keep it on the low. You will make payment,'
'From our offshore account. Once we check the weapons.' Oliver responded confidently.
Two of the men pry open one of the crates. They take out machine guns, sub machine guns and even a rocket launcher. Oliver takes a look at the rocket launcher.
'Weapons without ammunition?' Oliver asked.
Another crate is brought out from a plane near by and is placed near the slicked haired man. 'Here and,' another crate is placed. 'Here,' and another crate is placed. 'You get the point.'
'And there's no registration numbers?'
'Nothing can be traced, let alone traced to you. Each one has been checked American.'
Oliver nodded. 'You seeing this?' He said to seemingly no one. 'Come here. Taylor you fuck come here.'
Taylor Lambert entered into frame. He looked every bit as he did in college. Just more distinguished, Royce could he see he had some grey flecks in his brown hair, but his jawline still looked rock solid. Taylor looked nervous, almost shifty and to Royce someone who definitely did not want to be there. 'Why the fuck did you say my name Oliver?'
'I know of both of you.' The slicked man said with a smile.
'You do?' Taylor questioned him.
The man nodded.
'And how the hell does he know that?' Taylor asked as he looked at Oliver.
'I told him. We're in this together.' Oliver clarified.
'Can I talk to you for a moment, alone?' Taylor asked Oliver who nodded.
'Excuse me.' Oliver spoke to the slicked-haired man.
He nodded and spoke Slovakian to his men, who kept on packing crates behind him.
Oliver and Taylor went into a wooded area, full of bushes and shrubs, that they could not be seen, but they could be heard.
'You brought me here to fucking implicate me in this?' said Taylor who sounded like the literal definition of the term exasperated.
'Yes of course. We are in this together. Since we pledged our lives to his cause.'
'What if I don't want to be involved with his cause Oliver? What if I wanna make my way in this world without owing my life to him.'
Oliver laughed. 'You think the Mount, let alone the Rogue, will allow you to walk away? You think that politics allow you to make a mark in a world that in a few weeks will not even exist?'
'I can change our world, make it better, make the way our forefathers wanted it, but not by replacing it, not by destroying what was there.' Taylor stated.
'What the fuck is wrong with you Taylor? What you think that some local election wins, wins we helped with our money and influence, putting your rivals affair out into the public sphere, you think that you, you won that? Alone?' Oliver questioned his friend and partner .
'People love me. People fucking believe in me. They buy what I'm saying. They want the country back to the way it once was. Not how it is now. Not being replaced by this progressive nature. All these other cultures coming in and affecting our land. Our land is ours and we built this country. They want it the way it once was and I'm going to give it to them.'
'You going to say that to Pinkman?' Oliver laughed.
'He's one of the few good ones.' Taylor said. 'The rest need to go back to where they came.'
'Yeah I'm sure that's going to work on your campaign slogan.' Oliver bantered. 'Fucking Bob Jonas really fucked your brain up with this racial shit.'
'You don't care about that? How our country is changing?'
'None of it fucking matters. Cause this country and every country isn't going to be the fucking same in a few weeks. None of this matters Taylor. You fighting this war, that quite frankly the Hispanics are going win in the next few decades is just a waste of your time. You need to focus on the new world that is coming. One that is not about race, it is about power and we will have the most power.'
'Other than the Mount, what is his fucking name Lockemount?'
'Shut the fuck up!' Oliver said in a near panic, 'You only say his name once he demands it.'
'I don't give a fuck about what this fucker wants right now. All you fucking want is power, you're wear that bracelet and you don't even kno what the fuck it is doing to you. You are fucking consumed man. You need to get out, leave this shit. The new world shit.'
'IS THE WAY IT IS GOING TO BE!' Oliver screamed at the top of his lungs. 'You either follow or you are on the other side of this and you don't want to be on the other side of this.'
'What the other side? Where Reilly is? You know he escaped a few weeks ago and destroyed the facility? Killed everyone there. He's going to come for us.'
'And I'm going to kill him.'
'Kill him,' Taylor laughed, 'You Frankenstein now? Killing the monster you created,'
'We created. I provided the labs, who provided the scientists?' Oliver clarified.
'I do not want to be part of this. I could come out to the world.'
'And do what? Say what?' Oliver asked. 'Tell them you enabled the kidnapping and testing of several black men in this region to used as controlled enforcers to the new realm we are trying to open that will take over this one? Yeah I'm sure they're going to allow you to be the next president after that.'
'Obama knew about the aliens that visited us in twenty-ten.'
'Yeah and have they been back since Taylor? No.' Oliver queried and was met with silence. 'Come with me . I'm going to need you watch what I'm about to do. It's important that you see this..'
They walked back past the bushes and shrubs and went into the clearing again, right in the air strip. Most of the crates have been packed up. Pinkman's camera followed everything.
Oliver and Taylor met with the slicked back man.
'This all your men?' Oliver asked.
The slicked haired man replied 'Yes, apart from Vlad our pilot.'
'Tell him to come out.' Oliver said.
'Why?'
'Cause he needs to hear what I'm about to tell you all.' Oliver advised.
'He can stay in the plane.'
Oliver shook his head. 'If you want your money. He will come out of the plane.'
'If you want your weapons and see the next day's sunlight American,' The slick-haired man showed his gun tucked under his belt near his crotch, 'you pay us now.'
His men all took out and showed their machine guns.
'Okay.' Oliver said. 'I tried to do this the right way, but you cannot stop the inevitable.'
Pinkman's camera panned to the slicked hair man who just looked confused. 'What are you fucking talking about?'
'Holidem.' Oliver's voice and tone just rumbled with power.
The slicked haired man and each his of his men were lifted up in the air and were choked. Each of them could not reach of their guns as they were too busy grabbing their necks.
'You don't come into my country and threaten me. Once you past through that part of the Atlantic, you are in my world.' Oliver said as he walked up to the slick-haired man. 'This is my dominion.' he showed every one the bracelet, that glowed purple in the night. The bracelet also looked like purple swirls of energy was around it.
The slicked haired man tied to reach for his weapon. 'Ffffuck….you.'
Oliver took it from him and waved it about playfully, doing cowboy twists and turns with it. 'You should have been on your own knees and begged for the money. Maybe you would have gotten it.'
'I…I know people. They will not.'
'And I know God. He has given me this power. I could get Vlad, wait Vlad,' Oliver looked at the plane. 'VLAD! COME OUT NOW!' Oliver looked at the slicked man. 'Does he understand English?'
He did not have to wait for that answer as Vlad came out of the plane with his gun pointed and said something in Ukrainian. Whatever he said, he started to run and he fired a full clip at Oliver soon after.
'Tel-Vican –Partos.' Oliver said as the bullets faded into thin air.
Vlad stopped running towards them at this point. All that adreanalised momentum stopped. He looked at his gun.
'Loconos.' Oliver said and Vlad was flung towards him and Oliver grabbed him by the neck with his other hand. The bracelet glowed more prominently purple. 'Glad you can join us Vlad.'
Vlad chocked.
Taylor walked backwards away from this.
'Stay the fuck where you were, Taylor.' Oliver looked at him. Taylor stayed still. 'Men. Take the guns.'
The Greycloaks did and they took out shotguns and AK's. They loaded them and pointed them at the men in the air.
'Give them an old fashioned American goodbye.' Oliver said.
The Greycloaks shot each man while they were in the air and they dropped to the ground dead.
'I tried to make this honourable. I tried to do this right.' Oliver threatened.
'You don't know about honour.' The slicked haired man said.
'Maybe you're right. Honour is such a loose term anyway, someone's honour is another person's dishonour.' Oliver shot him in the head. The man dropped to the ground. Oliver put another bullet into his head and emptied the rest of the clip onto his chest. He looked at Vlad. 'You pack up these bodies and you fly home, little man. You fly home and you tell them, whoever the fuck he was talking about that the payment is you will get, is that you get to bury these men in their homeland. Their families can see them being buried with grace and not burned to oblivion here. That I've given them that.' He let Vlad go. 'That they need to prepare for the new world that's coming.'
Vlad nodded and started to pull the first dead body to the plane.
Oliver looked at The Greycloaks. 'Pack the rest of this shit up.' The Greycloaks did what they were told as the purple embers faded on the bracelet Oliver wore. He walked up to Taylor. 'That is the other side Taylor. You wanna be on that side?'
The video cut there.
Royce sat back. 'Shit. This wasn't just enough to hold Oliver. This could bury him.'
3
Royce got back to the station. He was happy to see that Daniel and Erica was released. He had to show them the footage.
So he brought them into his office and showed them everything. Daniel watched it with little to no emotion. He poured over every detail. Erica just shook her head.
'This is enough to bury him. Murder, illegal import of weapons.' Erica said.
'And how did you get this?' Daniel asked.
'Marco Reilly.' Royce said.
'What?' Daniel and Erica asked at the same time.
'Yeah. He's got Alyssa.'
'Royce,' Erica said concerned. 'Is she?'
'I don't know.' Royce said, 'but I can't trust him to not do something considering he's killed anyone attached to this and she is.'
'So he wants you to arrest Oliver to bring him out here.' Daniel suggested.
'And get that bracelet off him.' Erica said. 'When he's booked in, they'll take all of his belongings.'
'Leaving him open for Marco.' Royce affirmed. 'That's it. He wants a clear shot at him.'
'And that's what we're going to give him.' Daniel declared.
'Look I want that fucker gone like no other, but if I just let Marco kill him,'
'No, he's going to get his shot at him, but he is not going to kill him.' Daniel said.
'Because we are going to get him before he does. He just needs to be out in the open.' Erica said.
'You prepared to kill him this time? Cause I don't think it's going to end any other way.' Royce said. 'He won't stop until this mission of his is done. Plus if he knows that I told you, he will kill Alyssa.'
'Then we will act like we don't.' Erica asked. 'But Royce does ask an important question. Will you be able to kill him when it is all said and done?'
'You're not looking to arrest Chandler?' Daniel asked her.
'He is not going to give us that choice, Daniel. We all know what this is when meet him. It's a fight to the death. We all know that. You may have the best shot at getting him.'
'Marco and I disclosed our terms when we spoke. I know what to do when the time comes.' Daniel said.
'I have to give him proof that Oliver is here without you two knowing.' Royce said.
'Then before we question him, you go get a picture and send it to him.' Daniel said. 'You just find the right time.'
'How long do you think we will have, before his lawyers come through?' Erica asked.
'Philadelphia is two hours away from here, but they'll fly in so we will have a good hour or so.' Royce said.
'That's all the time we need. Marco won't need an hour to get here.' Daniel said. 'We'll get him to talk about Taylor.'
'He'll plead the fifth. He won't say a thing until his lawyers get here.' Royce said.
'I think he wants to talk about it.' Daniel said.
'I don't.' Erica said. 'I don't think he's that stupid. He'll sit in silence and wait. He knows he's got all the power.'
'Until Marco comes.' Royce said. He looked at Daniel and Erica. 'He cannot know that you both know. He cannot know.'
'I don't think he gives a shit. As long as he gets his shot at Oliver.' Daniel said.
'Don't presume that shit, Bridgewater. My wife's life is on the fucking line. What he says and what he wants right now is etched in fucking stone right now. You understand?'
Daniel did realise that this was Royce's whole world in jeopardy here. That rational thinking was not going to happen with him. Despite his own best interests to end this case. He cared enough about Royce to want to say something to reassure him. This case had become personal to Royce. It was more than life or death to him. More than his own life. 'We'll get her back.'
Royce nodded and smiled. He took that on board. 'You remembered where he took you?'
'I have an idea.' Daniel announced.
'Cause we may need the ability of Ms Chandler to come through for us.' Royce said as he looked at her.
'I need to see the place, I can't go into the memory of him. I wish I could.' Erica said,
'Then you need to take her and look around and he can't see that you are coming.' Royce said.
'What if she's not there?' Erica asked.
'At least we have checked. That will be the most important thing, but you cannot be seen. Invisibility isn't one of your abilities, right?'
Daniel and Erica both shook their heads. Royce himself nodded in acknowledgment.
'What are you going to do in this time?' Daniel asked.
'I'm going to arrest Oliver Harris.' Royce said. 'That's what I'm going to do.'
4
It was late afternoon and dusk was about to make an appearance.
It took a little over half hour for Royce to get to the city hall. The city hall itself was one of the oldest building in Preston. A building of five floors and several hundred square feet in land width. It was one of the tallest buildings and one that can be seen from the distance as you entered the city centre.
The hallways were long and clean. Maps and historical portraits were on almost every wall. Each department had its own look and feel. The department of Law Enforcement looked more overdrawn than usual.
'God-damn it.' Larry slammed his fist on his desk. 'God damn it.' He looked at Royce. 'Do you know what this means?'
Royce nodded. 'I do.'
Larry's own office was bigger than half of the police station's main floor. Certificates, plaques, orders of merit, and commendations were all over the place, as was a picture of the nineteen-ninety-seven playboy playmate of June in that year, Carrie Stephens.
Larry noticed that Royce looked at that picture. He smiled. 'My ex-wife looked like her. Now I wish I had the real thing.' He paused. 'I assume you got an arrest warrant from Judge Weatherly?'
Royce nodded.
'That fucking quick?' Larry asked.
'He was compelled, by the compelling evidence you have just seen.' Royce smirked for a moment.
'Yeah and he has always been a fan of number nine.' Larry replied with none too obvious sarcasm. 'Then why are you here?'
'So when it all goes down and it's about to, you will know why. Nothing like lumping coal on someone's lap when they don't know about it.' Royce said.
'I do love our local colloquialisms. Where are your two new friends? They are on their way to Harris?' Larry asked.
'No, they are out checking out another lead for Marco Reilly.'
'Speaking of Reilly, we've had several calls of Reilly visiting a few hardware stores and outlet malls on surrounding areas of Preston.'
'Buying what?' asked Royce as this was news to him.
'Materials, chemicals.' answered Larry.
'Materials and Chemicals.' Royce repeated to himself.
'Yeah, just a few reports have just come through today while you were out on business.' Larry said. He took a more serious tone. 'When you arrest Oliver Harris, we are going to have the full force of Philadelphia on us. We'll be like that meet strung up in that ice locker and his team of lawyers are Rocky Balboa. Punching the hell out of us.'
'You inspire such confidence, sir.' Royce said with obvious sarcasm.
'Ah, fuck off Detective. Just arrest the man and we'll deal with the consequences.'
5
Alyssa Drysdale was tied up tight. She was also exhausted from screaming her lungs out for the last hours. She was on the roof of a derelict building. She was tied by rope around an aerial pole. She watched the sun start to go down and the ominous dark clouds forming in the horizon.
Marco Reilly emerged from the darkened sky and landed just a few feet in front of her. He had roll of wire in his hand. 'How long did you scream for?'
Alyssa said nothing.
Marco nodded. 'You can stay silent, but you should talk. This could be your last night on this earth.'
'You said to Royce,'
'I said what I needed to say to Royce to get the man motivated.' Marco attested as he connected the to the duffle bag eight feet away from Alyssa. There were other wires sticking out of the bag and going up and into the walls inside of the building.
'So you are going to kill me?'
'Depends if they get here on time Mrs Drysdale.'
'Who's they?' Alyssa asked.
'I'm not an idiot. I already knew you husband flapped his guns to the two agents who are on the case here.'
'No one knows that I am here.'
'I sadly made the miscalculation of bringing Agent Bridgewater here, so they are probably on their way as I speak.'
'What have you got there? A bomb?' Alyssa asked almost in jest.
'Yes.' Marco answered in a matter of fact kind of manner.
'You're going to blow me up?' Alyssa said in real seriousness.
'That is the intention, the actual intention is to blow you up and the two agents. Seeing if fire and brimstone can put an end to their lives. Hopefully, but I think it has a high success rate.' Marco said.
'Who talks like you? Talking about killing people like its some game?'
'A person who has been given no fucks in this world. A person who lived and died every day, a person waho was faced with the extremities of pain every fucking day Mrs Drysdale. A person who know, feels deep fucking down in the marrow that this is right. You can't go around and do what you did to me, not kill me and think you can just live a normal life? No, that is not going to happen. None of you gave a fuck about my life and the lives of the other black men that were taken and tortured and died. No, none of you get a happy ending. You all signed your death warrants when you kept on bringing me back to life.'
' I WASN'T INVOLVED!!!' Alyssa screamed.
'BUT YOU WERE THERE MRS DRYSDALE! YOU WERE THERE! YOU DID NOTHING.'
'I remember seeing you, all of you, I tried my best.'
Marco laughed. 'Your best?' He laughed again. 'What did your best entail? Go on, regale me with this tale.'
'I was threatened by both Oliver and Taylor. They threatened to hurt my family. To hurt Royce. I saw what they did. I believed them.' Alyssa fretted.
'So you're best was nothing? Am I right?'
'You never loved anyone more than yourself?'
'And I never cheated.' Marco fumed. 'I was created, fucking made into this instrument of death, or I guess a motherfucking villain to you. But you, you betrayed the one thing you're not supposed to. A promise that you made to the being upstairs and all yours and Royce's friends and family. I was made into this, you did what you did under your own volition. You by accepting Lambert's member, ended up right here.'
'You can't compare what I've done to what you are doing right now and have been doing.' Alyssa lashed out with a forceful tone.
'Only the ones who break hearts don't know of the damage that they do. You don't even know what you took from your husband. I doubt you even want to know. Wherever it is here or the afterlife, I hope you find out.' Marco attached time counter with a switch on the chest of Alyssa. He tied some wire and clipped them on a latch under the timer.
Alyssa tries to shake it off.
'What the fuck are you doing, this is movement sensitive. You move you blow and anyone, once it's set is around five feet near you, you see them blinking lights?' Marco questioned.
Alyssa looked around and as Marco flipped another switch. Red sensor dotted around the roof flickered on and off like Christmas lights.
'If anyone sets foot here and the lights glow red and staying glowing red. Well then it is sayonara.'
'Please Marco don't do this.' Alyssa pleaded.
'I'm giving you a chance. They have got an hour. See that?' Marco showed her the timer and he rose above the ground as he placed it on her chest and pressed a button to the side. The seconds started to count down. 'You can be either saved or you can die. Now, now you will understand what is was like for me being trapped in the chamber. I don't envy you.' Marco said as he started to fly away.
'MARCO!!!! MARCO!!!' Alyssa screamed as tears streamed down his cheeks.
'Goodbye Mrs Drysdale.' Marco said as he flew high in the dark evening sky.
'MARCO!!! I'M SORRY!!!! I'M,' Alyssa started to bawl. 'I'm sorry.' she knew he could not hear her. If he if he could, he did not care.
6
As Royce walked into the office of Oliver Harris with the signed arrest warrant in his pocket. This moment should have one were would have had a permanent smile. Even some glee. But all he thought about was Alyssa and how he just had to arrest Oliver and basically wait for the literal being of vengeance to show up.
Oliver sat in his chair and looked at Royce with a confident smarmy smile. 'Detective Drysdale, you are already better than your partners. Breaking in, assaulting my security. I mean it doesn't show their agency's professionalism.'
'I'm going to cut to the chase.' Royce fumed.
'Please do. I'm busy.'
'You better cancel those plans Oliver.'
Oliver for the first time in a long time, looked at Royce with real surprise. 'Sorry What the fuck are you talking about?'
'Oliver Harris you are under arrest for the murder of foreign citizen and also the illegal trafficking of unauthorised foreign weapons into the state.'
'What are you talking about?'
Royce carried on as he took out his handcuffs. 'You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.'
'You fuck, Royce,' Oliver smiled, 'you fucking idiot.'
'Stand up.'
'Make me.' Oliver snarled.
'Thank you.' Royce said who grabbed him and lifted him up off his seat and slammed him hard on the wall behind. Face first.
'You're going to fucking pay for that.'
'I'm sure you'll try. You'll fail too. I'm not rich.'
Oliver laughed harder and louder. 'That ain't a throw away statement Royce, that isn't even a promise, this is a certainty. You will fucking pay for this.'
'Oh so I can add threatening an officer to these charges. Thanks.' Royce joshed and clasped the handcuffs on Oliver. Royce deep down despite everything that was going on. He did smile and he could not hide it.
Royce heard the clicking of pulled triggers.
'I advice you to let him go.' said a voice behind Royce. He knew this was security.
'I advice you to put down your weapons.' Royce said. 'I'm arresting your boss for various crimes. Do you want to be arrested with him cause if I turn around and see weapons drawn in my direction, I will arrest you boss, book him in and fucking come back here and arrest all of you. Now I'm turning around. I'm hoping there is a least a modicum of intelligence between all of you.' Royce finished as he pulled Oliver off the wall and they both turned around.
The three armed men all holstered their weapons.
'Good, all of you at least have a level of intelligence that belies the uniforms you wear.' Royce said as he moved Oliver around the table. 'Move out of the way.' Royce ordered as the men did step out of the pairs way.
Oliver looked at one particular guard, the tallest and largest framed of the three. The guard just nodded.
Royce noticed. 'You get your own phone call. Don't worry about that. I hope you know the number off by heart dickhead.'
Oliver smiled. 'Oh I was confirming that I was getting other help.'
Royce yanked Oliver's arm that caused a bit of a grimace. 'Yeah, and what help is that?'
'You'll fucking see, Drysdale. You'll see. You're not going to miss a thing.' Oliver smiled.
'Tell that to Aerosmith.' Royce said as they exited out of the room.
The three guards looked at each other. The tallest and largest guard named Stewart said, 'Get the others.'
7
A portal opened in front of a quiet desolate street. Daniel and Erica stepped through.
Cars could be heard in distance away and there was not many street lights around. Trees ruffled in the dark as a harsh wind came through.
The road had large potholes, cracked cement was on creases between the sidewalk and the grass. There was not any signs of life.
Erica looked on and asked Daniel, 'You sure this is the place?'
'Yeah,' Daniel replied, 'I'm sure.' He looked at Erica. 'Grab my arm.'
'Why?'
'Trust me.'
Erica nodded and she grabbed his arm.
'Better hold on tight.' Daniel smiled.
'Why?'
As the "y" left her lips, Erica was already high into the sky.
Daniel leapt high into the night sky and they flew over trees and old car parks, through old derelict apartments and factories. Daniel turned Erica's waist and lifted her legs in mid-air. He needed to do this as they landed. If they landed together, he was sure he'd break both Erica's legs.
He placed her down. He did respect the fact that Erica just went with it and did not scream or even swear.
'And the purpose of that?' Erica asked.
Daniel pointed directly in front of them at the large empty building that was lit with blinking red lights in the distance. It looked like a disused factory. 'That is where he took me.'
'And that is where she is.' Erica said. 'Too easy.'
'It is too easy, but let's take the easy win.' Daniel said.
'Okay well let's leap up where those lights are and we can start from the top.' Erica said.
Daniel nodded and Erica grabbed his arm again when Daniel kept looking. 'Lights, those lights.'
'Yeah.'
'They were not there when I was here.' Daniel said.
'It was early morning. Maybe Marco's energy efficient?'
'It doesn't feel right.'
'Well do your eye thing and check it out.' Erica said.
'Yes, boss.' Daniel said as his irises went grey. The radar waves revealed each floor. Dusty equipment. Cobwebs and roots across most of the floors. He did notice wires across most og the two top floors, then he saw the wires attracted to the blinking lights, those lights were connected to a red and black duffle bag. He then saw the duffle bag had a wire that led all the way to Alyssa Drysdale. He saw the counting timer on her chest. 'Fuck.'
'What? What do you see?'
'Alyssa Drysdale is attached to bomb.'
8
Everyone stopped what they were doing when Royce Drysdale brought in Oliver Harris in handcuffs.
No one even tried to pretend to look away. Each eyeball was firmly trained on Oliver Harris, who did not look like a man who defeated. He looked quite the opposite. He looked like a man full of pride.
He was booked in. Had the hand cuffs removed. He had his fingerprints taken, he had his personal items removed. Two officers tried to take off the thick iron bracelet. They could not.
Royce looked at him. 'Remove it.'
Oliver muttered something under his breath and the bracelet unclasped with purple mist appearing and then evaporating just as quick.
One of the officers took the bracelet which was far heavier that it looked. This was placed on an evidence bag. Oliver watched the bracelet move away from him.
His prideful look never wavered. He was taken into the room where he was to be photographed in front of the height chart. Oliver Harris was just over six feet tall according to the chart. The photos taken of Oliver ranged from the side profiles of the left and right and straight ahead.
Royce sneakily took some photos of this on his cellular phone. He then sent it to Alyssa's phone.
Oliver was then dragged into a cell and the door slammed in behind.
Daniels walked up to Royce. 'Can't believe you got him.' He said to Royce. 'How?'
'Compelling evidence.' Royce said and he received a text and he took out his cellphone. It was from Alyssa's phone. So it was Marco. All that was written on the text was.
Good
He put the phone back and sighed.
'The wife?' Daniels asked.
Royce nodded.
'I'm on the honeymoon phase. So most messages I feel good, not looking forward to the whole getting a message and giving a deep sigh. Some sort of bullshit right?'
Royce missed that entire thing. He was locked into his own thoughts. He hoped and even prayed, well felt like he wanted to pray that Daniel and Erica got to Alyssa and got to as she was fine and had not one hair out of place, but Royce knew that was highly unlikely. 'Get Oliver Harris into interrogation room one as soon as.'
'He doesn't get his phone call? You won't be able to question him without his legal counsel.' Daniels said.
'I will, just get him in there. If any heat falls your way because of it, Daniels, pass it my way. You shouldn't fall because of my choice.'
'Royce eh,' Daniels could see that something felt a little off with him, 'you okay, you seem,'
'Daniels, could you please do what I asked please?' Royce asked with a forceful, urgent tone.
'No problem.' Daniels said unimpressed with how he was treated and walked to the interrogation room.
Royce shook his head. He hated being that way. Daniels, much like Roberts was a good cop, but more importantly, he was a good man and good men did not deserve to be talked to in that way, but this was not the time for respect for good men. Things were about to happen tonight. Royce felt it, felt in deep in his bones.
He did not have a lot of time.
Royce watched as Daniels went into the cell where Oliver was and led him out and took him to the interrogation room.
Royce was determined to ask Oliver some questions, while Oliver still had breath in his lungs. Still his dominant thoughts laid with his wife. 'Guys you better save my wife.' He said to himself. 'You better.'
'Royce.' Daniels said from the door of interrogation room one.
Royce looked at him, again snapped out from his deepest thoughts.
'He's ready.'
Royce nodded and walked up to the room and faced Oliver who was handcuffed to the table.
The door shut behind him and they were in the room alone.
9
Daniel and Erica watched the roof and the blinking lights.
'So what's the plan?' Erica said. 'Teleport there and release her?'
Daniel shook his head. 'We don't know what kind of trigger if there is even one on her, one move and it could blow.' He looked at the roof again. 'I think Marco rigged the fucking roof with those lights, those are sensors, it will track if anything is lands near her.'
'You think?' Erica asked.
'That's what I'd do. Makes it more painful when the rescue attempt fails.' Daniel said. 'Plus he wants to punish.'
'Royce?'
'No,' Daniel replied, 'her.'
'We are going to rescue you her.' Erica looked at Daniel.
'Yes we just need to be as fast as possible.' Daniel said. He looked again at the roof. The time had just hit five minutes to go. 'Fuck.'
'What?'
'We got five minutes.'
'Yeah of course we have, cause we've been dicking around for the last ten minutes. What are we going to do?' Erica said at her most urgent.
Daniel looked at the roof and noticed something. 'You see that sloped part of the roof, about six feet higher than most of the roof?'
'Yeah.'
'Teleport us there now.'
'Okay.' Erica said and they did.
Alyssa full of tears saw them as soon as they appeared. 'Erica! Daniel! I got a fucking bomb,'
'We know.' They both said to her.
'Marco said no one could get close to me. If your five feet away from me that bag over there will explode.' Alyssa said as she pointed to that bag.
'What's part two of the plan?' Erica asked Daniel.
Daniel looked at Alyssa and smiled at her. 'Alyssa, I'm going to need you to scream out that your hands are free, I don't know if there is a movement trigger so when the ropes lost keep your hands in the same position okay?'
'Okay!' Alyssa nodded.
'What you planning to do?' Erica asked him.
'Something I haven't done in years. Magic. If I get this right, when she lets you know that she is free, teleport to her and teleport her away, think of the place that you want to take her, see it in your mind. Cause you may literally have a second or two. Got it?'
'What about you?'
'Got it Chandler?' Daniel said more firmly.
'I got it.'
Daniel nodded and closed his eyes. He searched in his mind for spells of old, not just in terms of the age of the spell he searched for, but also it had been such a long time he used a spell. He did not have his staff, but he was well versed in magic since he was young, and he was considered one of the best in his class. He tried to imagine a time when he needed to free someone.
Angela….I freed her way back, nearly thirty years ago. Nineteen -ninety-five. Carson Thomas tried to kill her and I stopped him. What did I use to free her?
Then it a perfect moment of clarity the spell appeared in his brain. He lifted his right hand towards Alyssa. 'Revelso.'
Alyssa felt the rope start to slow untie itself. 'Shit it is working, it is working.'
Daniel kept his eyes closed and he imagined that he was untying her. He then moved his head up and he saw himself, eyes closed. He was behind her, but in another form, a spectral form, he could not be seen by anyone, but he could see everyone. More importantly as he was behind her in the form he was, he had no natural weight on the ground. He untied the rope, that was thick in knots.
'I'm free!' Alyssa shouted. 'I'm free!'
Daniel heard an echo. Any sound felt like it was underwater. Muffled, distant. Voices were around him everywhere and nowhere. The corporeal form of Daniel Bridgewater went over to the front of Alyssa Drysdale and lifted up slowly the timer and the wire and moved it away from Alyssa. Placed the timer six feet away from her.
There were only fifteen seconds left.
'Unrevelso.' he said, and Daniel was in his body again, but the whole experience made him disorientated and the whole world in front of him was fragmented imagery with no hope of focus.
'Now?'
'Now.' He told Erica as she teleported to Alyssa as the blinking lights stayed red and they disappeared as the building exploded with Daniel still on the roof.
10
The clock on the far left corner showed the time of quarter past nine in the evening.
Oliver Harris just watched Royce.
There was silence for the last ten minutes. It was a game of chicken and Royce forgot how much time he thought he had.
Royce won the game, as it was Oliver who spoke first.
'I don't get a phone call?'
Royce shook his head.
'I have rights.' Oliver said.
'You do.'
'But not now?'
'I thought you were getting help. I thought your guards would ring your high-priced lawyers ahead of time.'
Oliver smiled. 'I'll be out of here. Tonight.'
'Your lawyers work that fast?'
'They're on retainer.' Oliver said.
'They haven't seen the evidence. You'll be looking to post bail.'
'I think you'll be surprised how I'll get out.' Oliver said.
Royce changed the conversation. 'What is this bracelet we've got? Family air loom?'
Oliver laughed and shook his head. 'If I said that, would you actually believe me?'
Royce shook his head.
'It was given to me.'
'By who?'
'A better man than you.' Oliver said.
'Well that's a given.' Royce said. 'Many men are better than me. I guess the difference is I don't lose sleep about it.'
'I serve a higher purpose. To a grander, purer version of life.'
'I never thought of you as a follower Oliver. You always trod your own path, no matter how much you messed up. You marched to the beat of your own drum.'
'Stop with the euphemisms Royce. I've just seen a better world than you.'
'And what is this better world?' Royce sat forward.
'A free world. One without bureaucrats and false prophets. Without crime, without punishment.'
Royce laughed. 'And you worked with a far right group to get it? Do the other citizens, you know the ones who don't look like you and me, get to live in this new world of yours?'
Oliver sat forward. 'As backward as those men's visions are and as stupid as they are, they are motivated men, motivated and easy to control. You give them a dream of a white only land and they will fight tooth and nail for it. They don't truly know what they are buying into, as long as they believe it. That is the most important thing.'
'But Taylor Lambert believed in it too.'
'I needed a mouth piece. Someone who can install and enhance the passion in those men.' Oliver said.
'But started to believe it as well. You created a monster you couldn't control twice. Taylor Lambert and Marco Reilly. Didn't you?'
Oliver Harris stayed silent.
'You killed Audrey Lange as well. Afraid that she was going to talk. Did you push that Buick into Agent Bridgewater when he was chasing that car?' asked Royce as Oliver for the first time looked uncomfortable.
He swiftly kept his composure and said nothing. He retaliated with a simple smile and a shrug.
'You tricked Taylor Lambert didn't you? You wanted him there, you made him go there and because he wanted you sent an anonymous message to fucking Marco Reilly didn't you? You got him killed because he was going to leave this mission of yours and you couldn't let that go. It was you and him to the end like you two always have been and because he wanted to be by himself, you couldn't take that right? Tell me I'm wrong. You both come too far and you know that you were never going to let that go. Hell you hated it when we were close. Tried to fucking break us when we were younger, tried to tell him to try for quarterback when he didn't want to, and when I smoked him in the varsity try-outs, he didn't get mad at me, he got mad at you. I bet you probably even told him to go for my wife didn't ya?'
'You so wrong about all of what you just said Royce, apart from one thing and yes, you were right about that one thing. I said to Taylor, she always wanted you. It would be easy work. Alyssa Townsend, boy she was so easy. Easy on the eye. Alyssa man, she was always…easy…easy to like, easy to fuck. All you had to do was buy the bitch a happy meal and she was unbuckling your belt, easy.' Oliver said with a smile.
Royce enraged, stood up, grabbed the neck and the back of Oliver's head and slammed his head on the table three times. 'YOU FUCKING, FUCK! FUCKER!! TALK ABOUT MY FUCKING WIFE AGAIN! SAY SOME FUCKING SHIT HUH? SAY THAT SHIT AGAIN!!!' He screamed into the free ear of Oliver. He slammed his head on the table again. 'YOU FUCK, I'M GONNA KILL YA!'
'Say goodbye to that badge, Drysfail.' Oliver said. 'You fucking failure.'
Royce slammed his head again and Daniels and Roberts ran in and restrained him and away from Oliver whose knees were on the floor and he slowly got up and his head had an open bloody wound.
'Must be something to get someone to do your work for you. Marco passed you that "evidence" From Pinkman I bet? What did do to you, Royce?' Oliver asked as the blood poured down his face. 'Has he got her? Marco, has he got your wife?'
Royce had tried to calm down. His breaths were fast and almost erratrically violent. That violent adrenaline coursed right through as both Daniels and Roberts told him to calm down and struggled to contain him.
'You think he's touched her? You think she's reciprocated? She shown that she doesn't like a good guy. She ain't dead, but maybe she's opened herself to an opportunity, is that what your thinking Royce?' Oliver said as he wiped out that blood with his right hand slammed that bloody hand on the table. 'YOU WORRIED SHE GOT FUCKED AND FUCKED WELL ROYCE!'
'HARRIS!!!!!' Royce screamed at the fullest depths of his lungs.
Roberts looked at Daniels, 'Let get him outta here.'
Daniels nodded.
'LET ME GO! FUCK! LET ME GO! I HOPE YOU GET OUT OF HERE AND I'LL COME FOR YOU HARRIS! I'M GONNA COME FOR YOU!' Royce said as he led you by the force by his fellow officers. He grunted and growled as they took him out.
'Your wife first.' Oliver said.
'GODDAMNIT!!!' Royce said from outside as the door shut.
Oliver smiled and wiped more blood from the open wound. 'Can someone get me a fucking med kit, hell at least a fucking towel eh?'
11
It was now the fifth time in as many days that Daniel Bridgewater was hurtling through the air.
The trajectory of being thrown from the building as it exploded from being launched high into the night sky until the fast descent back to earth.
The world span around that time, a mix of the darkness of night and the light of the immensely destructive explosion that was below him and now was past him to his right. A roof broke his fall and then the next five floors and the stone floor ended his plummet.
Daniel was disorientated. He wanted to get up. He knew he was still alive by two immediate reasons. One was the pain he felt. Invulnerability still meant you felt something. The durability was the X-Factor of that ability. The second thing he wanted to say a bad joke to someone. Anyone.
What did the guy say to the roof after it exploded on him? Whadda did I do?
I'm still alive. Dead guys do not make bad jokes. He thought and laughed to himself.
Daniel stayed on the cracked floor and looked at the man shaped hole caused on every floor above him and the roof that he caused.
Survived another one.
He heard a faint buzz in his ear. Then a familiar voice.
'Bridgewater! Bridgewater!' Erica called.
He tapped his head and his new communicator appeared. 'Yeah.'
'You're alive, Thank god.'
'Takes more than an exploding building to kill me.' Daniel said half jokingly.
'Where are you?' asked Erica.
'Is Alyssa safe?'
'Yeah,' said Erica, 'She's fine, she's right next to me.'
'Are you're good?' Daniel said with relief.
'I'm good Daniel.' Erica said. 'Where are you?'
'Let me get my arse up and come out of where I'm at because quite simply I don't know where I am.' Daniel said and he walked around ten metres to the nearest door to his left. He walked out and saw the building they were all just on, in flames and collapsing in. The night above shone with the amber and gold of the bright and hot flames. They were not looking to be dying down anytime soon.
He saw Alyssa and Erica who were around two hundred metres away from him. They both looked at the flames as they danced around and consumed the building in front of them.
'Bridgewater. Where are you?' Erica said as she cleared looked around. 'I can't see you.'
'I can see you.' Daniel said as she turned and around faced him. He could see her smile from here. He did not even try to hide his smile. This may have been the first time in a long he smiled voluntarily.
They walked over to each other and stood in front of one another. Erica then ran to him and hugged his chest. She squeezed hard.
'Aren't you hot?' asked Daniel surprised that she gave that hug with his clothes not as cool as they would have been since the explosion.
'Don't care. I can take it.' Erica said as she squeezed harder.
Daniel smiled again. He put his right arm around her and gave a little squeeze as well.
Erica came out of the embrace. She then pushed him. 'Don't do that again.'
'I can't make prom,'
'Promises you can't keep. I get it. I get it. Still try and not blow yourself up again least when I'm here. Deal?'
Daniel shook her hand.
Alyssa walked over to the pair. 'Thank you, the both of you. You saved my life.'
'It's the job.' Erica said.
'I mean it, the deepest part of my heart. Thank you.' Alyssa said with her emotions that rose to the occasion. She looked at the burning building again. 'Fuck.' she said. 'That could have been me.'
'Luckily it wasn't.' Daniel said.
'Luck had nothing to do with it. That was all you two.' Alyssa said. 'Royce I need to speak to Royce.'
'You will.' Daniel said to Alyssa, but then looked at Erica. 'You need to drop her back to her home.'
'Wait I need to speak to him, let him know I'm okay, maybe you can take me to the station?' Alyssa asked frantically.
'No!' Daniel and Erica both said.
'You need to stay as far away from that police station.' Erica said. 'Shit's going to go down there and I'm pretty sure that Royce wouldn't want you anywhere near there.'
'She needs to take you home Alyssa. I promise I will let him know you are safe.' Daniel said.
'Is there anyone you can stay with?' Erica asked Alyssa.
'Yes my neighbours, The Johnsons I trust them.' replied Alyssa.
'Okay, I'll take you to them,' Erica said to Alyssa and then she looked at Daniel. 'I'll meet you at the station.'
Daniel nodded as he tapped his ear and called for a portal.
'How come you still have clothes on?' Alyssa asked.
'Non flammable top to bottom.' smiled Daniel.
'Come on.' Erica said as she grabbed Alyssa and they both disappeared.
'I need a portal to the Preston City police station as soon as possible.' Daniel said. 'Please.'
Daniel eyes reflected the gold embers of the emerging portal that formed in front of him and he walked through.
12
Royce was sat down in his office and he was passed a cup of coffee by Roberts. He had long calmed down at this point.
'You going to tell?' asked Royce.
'If we don't, he will.' Roberts said.
'What the fuck, Royce? You going to jeopardise your career for him?' Daniels who just joined in the room and shut the door behind him, asked.
'The fucker got in my head. I lost control.' Royce said. 'You want my gun and badge?'
'Eh, well we think that's the captain's job, but since he's away and it's the chief of police is in charge.' Roberts said confused.
'It won't be us. That's for sure.' Daniels followed up.
Daniel came through the door and all the concern and deep-welled sadness seemed to just disappear and Royce stood up.
'Is she?' Royce asked.
'She's fine, meaning she is alive and she is safe.' Daniel said. 'Erica took her to your neighbours.'
'The Johnsons?'
'Yes,' Daniel said, 'She should be with us as soon as possible.'
The relief across Royce's face was clear and he almost collapsed back to his chair. The relief was that overwhelming. 'Thank you.'
Daniel smiled and nodded.
'Who's safe?' Roberts asked.
'Is Harris here?'
'Yeah he's in the interrogation room. Getting checked up.' Royce said.
'Why?'
'Royce tried to make his face part of the table.' Daniels said.
'Well that fucker has a way with his words.' Daniel said. 'How much trouble is in?' He asked the other two officers and pointed at Royce.
'Well we need to report to the chief,' Roberts said.
'Maybe not tonight. Maybe leave it until the night is done. Is that cool?' Daniel asked.
'I mean, Agent Bridgewater, we have rules, codes of conduct.' Daniels said.
'And I'm sure that Oliver Harris required any code of conduct to be slapped across his head, but right now I need this man to have his gun and badge on him.' Daniel said with authority.
'Why?' Roberts asked.
'Because Marco Reilly at any moment is going to attack this place to get to Oliver Harris. So I'm going to need every officer to have their weapon out and be ready for him.' Daniel said.
'How are you so sure?' asked Daniels.
'Just call it a hunch.' Daniel answered. 'Royce, take me to him.'
They walked down to the interrogation rooms. Daniels and Roberts looked nervous. Daniel walked behind Royce.
They all got to the room and Daniel looked at the three officers.
'Best I go in myself.' Daniel said.
'You going to keep your hands to yourself? Cause Harris has a propensity to make a person want to smack him in the mouth.' Royce asked Daniel.
'I can keep my hands to myself.' Daniel smiled and entered the room.
The door closed behind Daniel and he sat in front of Oliver Harris, he had a some stitches above his left eye.
Daniel sat down with a smile. 'That Royce?' he pointed at the stitches.
Oliver said nothing.
'He really worked on you. What did you say?'
'Something that evidently made him snap at me.' Oliver replied. 'Go figure.'
'You do have a way of asking to get hurt.' Daniel said.
'Only to those who think they can hurt me.'
'You don't think I can hurt you?' Daniel asked as he now sat forward.
'I remember the last time we saw each other. The pain you were in. Realmer.' Oliver spat. 'None of it matters. You, Drysdale. It doesn't matter.'
'Oh you foresee something?' Daniel asked.
'Tonight it all changes.' Oliver said. 'None of this will matters.'
'You ain't worried about Marco scuppering your plans?' Daniel asked, 'or me?'
'You can't even get near the machine. Realmers don't do well with embers from other worlds, in particular the world that will be coming. It's not a good fit and when it does come, you will be one of the first to go Bridgewater. There won't be a better sight.' Oliver said. 'Marco, will be dealt with. He wanted his plan to be seen. So it will.'
'What did you just say?' Daniel asked as he just realised something.
'You heard what I said Bridgewater. I don't need to fucking repeat myself.' Oliver reacted angrily like it was a chore for him to repeat his words. Perhaps it was the disrespect he felt that Daniel did not feel the chill in his bones that Oliver was going for.
Daniel stood up. 'You are right. He did want it to be seen.' He left Oliver who looked more perplexed by his exit than just the whole conversation he just had.
Daniel walked past Royce like he was not even there.
'Hey, Bridgewater. What the fuck was that about?' Royce asked as confused as Oliver was.
'I need to get to the warehouse. There's something I missed.' Daniel said.
'You wanna go now? You know who might come at any fucking moment.' Royce almost spat those last words out.
'I'll be back quick time.'
In that moment, Erica came around the corner and met the pair. She looked satisfied and relaxed for some reason.
Daniel and Royce both looked confused.
'Royce, you live next to the most delightful people. I tried to leave, but that Guinness punch is something else.' Erica said as she sounded more enthusiastic about the punch than anything else.
'That's the Johnsons.' Royce shrugged.
'I need you stay here with Royce.' Daniel said.
'And where are you going?' Erica asked.
'Back to the warehouse apparently.' Royce added.
'Why?' asked Erica who's enthusiasm was replaced with confusion.
'He says his missed something.' Royce added some more.
Erica looked at Royce. 'Are you his spokesperson?'
'Apparently.' Royce said.
'I'll be back soon.' Daniel was about to walk past, but Erica grabbed his arm. If this were anyone else, that would have been a problem.
'We need you here or let me come with you.' Erica said.
'I need you here.'
It did dawn on Erica that he very rarely ever attributed the words "I need you" to her with such meaning. It was probably the first time that he uttered those words at her and she just nodded.
'If shit goes down. You can handle him.' Daniel said to her.
'What about me?' Royce asked with a smile. He knew the response that would come.
'You just hide.' Daniel said.
'You know that is not happening.' Royce said.
'I will be back. I just need to check something.' Daniel said and Erica let go of his arm and he ran around the corner.
'Hope he makes it back in time.' Royce said.
'He will.' Erica said. 'He has to.'
13
Marco Reilly floated above the ground and he never felt so free.
If only everyone felt this freedom.
He was above the police station. He waited his time. They would probably be ready for him. He saw the portal that opened up near the back and Daniel Bridgewater ran into the station. He looked to the east and saw the fires of the building he exploded.
Bet they saved her. Lucky girl.
He thought about his life after tonight, when he hoped his mission was over. Where he would go and what he would do.
Maybe try and be a football coach again. Find the next great star.
That sounded good for him. Still he needed things to do. The night was still young and he had plans, goals to achieve. It had been the first time in a long time, since he ended the lives of his ex-wife and her lover that he thought of a life past his vengeance.
He saw a portal open up to the side and Daniel went through and he disappeared with it.
That maybe the coolest thing other than flying. I wonder where the fuck he is going? Is he scared? Scared of what is coming. I don't blame him. I'd be scared of me too. He can't stop me. Not one can.
Marco looked at the police station.
A lot of them officers in them will try and stop me. A lot of them will use their weapons and their bullets do not hit. A lot of those officers kissed their loved ones goodbye for the last time. I doubt they will listen to reason. I think they will power through their fear. I see them dying in pain. I will try to make it quick for them.
Marco looked down the city area. Coming in from the western part of the city were a fleet of four four by fours, swerving in and out of traffic, passing both stop signs and red lights.
Marco figured that the fleet of vehicles were headed to the station.
Marco just smiled. Here they come.
14
Russo and Sampson were sat in their police cruiser in front of the warehouse. The area was still tapped off, but the tape looked like it was making a run for it as it was not as tightly wrapped as it was before.
'We get punished? Why?'
'For that whole shit we did with Bridgewater. The humiliating arrest.' Russo said.
'That wasn't an arrest. We drove him like he was our boss to the station and escorted him to his cell like we were a concierge.' Sampson's voice rose with every word.
'Well the chief did not like how it all went down, so we are here. Witnesses said antagonised the situation.' Russo said as he remained placid about the whole thing. He needed to remain to calm, but he wanted to create as much ruckus as Sampson did, but what good would that do? They would just be two angry cops in a place that they did not want to be at on a Friday night.
'At least they could have put us in the corner of Fourth and Washington.'
Russo laughed. 'Whoretown? Yeah you'd be so fucking lucky and you ain't that lucky my friend.'
'One can hope hey.' Sampson said in jest, but the underlying sadness became quite evident. 'I fucking heard that arrest Harris.'
Russo looked surprised. 'No shit for what?'
'Homicide and illegal transport of weapons.' Sampson said. 'They say they got enough to bury him.'
'They got enough to bury a normal man, but Harris, this city's favourite son? Nah, plus he's rich, unless they got a bloody glove with his DNA and him on camera, he's going home tonight, clean.' Russo said.
'We'll see.' Sampson said under his breath. 'Fucking punishment. Us? All for that piece of limey shit Bridgewater. He thinks fucking flowers come out of his ass.'
'If that fucker didn't have what they call that demon power, I'd fucking beat the shit out of him. Take that shit away from, what is he then huh? What is he then?' Russo asked as his voice started to rise.
'He'd be like us.'
'Exactly, that is what I am talking about.' Russo said. 'If we were on the same level, I'd beat his ass. Predictably.' Russo said with unwarranted confidence. 'If that piece of shit was in front of me right now, I'd let him know.'
A portal opened up to the right of them.
They both looked in astonishment as Daniel Bridgewater stepped out in front of the warehouse and the portal closed behind him. He started to walk to warehouse.
'Here's your chance.' Sampson said as Russo was already out of the car.
'BRIDGEWATER!' Russo shouted. 'WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?'
'I'm checking the warehouse. That good?' Daniel said without turning around.
'That's a crime scene.'
'And weirdly enough I'm investigating this crime. Go figure Russo.' Daniel said as he opened the door and entered the warehouse.
Russo rushed in and Sampson followed.
They saw that Daniel had already made it to the main warehouse floor. The light was switched on. The smell of bleach had run its course smelled like a warehouse again. Daniel was by the middle of the floor. He looked around.
'Why the fuck are you here, Bridgewater?' Russo asked.
'You ever had the feeling you forgot something, like with you two with your intelligence and manners?' Daniel said as he looked at the roof.
'Hey, you fuck!' Sampson said.
Russo tapped Sampson's chest. 'Yeah and what have you forgotten here?
'A clue, something. Fucking Marco Reilly wanted me to know something. He wanted me to know something.'
'And what the fuck would that be?' Russo asked as he looked up at the roof as well.
'Why the roof? Why would he leave the bodies there? Why put them up there in the first place?' Daniel asked.
'To show his power?' Sampson replied.
'Yes, but why, why there.'
'Cause he wanted them to see something?' Russo offered his suggestion.
Daniel smiled. 'That might be the first smart thing you have said to me. Like ever.'
'Fuck off prick.' Russo said, but even he had to take that compliment.
Daniel leapt to the other floor and looked down at the main floor. He then looked at the roof.
'What are you thinking?' Sampson said.
'Marco said something to me. Said that the twelve men had to see their plans end.' he thought about that. 'Hey Sampson turn off that light.'
Sampson turned off the light and Daniel took out a torch that shone ultraviolet light and he shone it at the floor.
Both Russo and Sampson saw what was beneath them.
'No way.' Sampson said.
'What the fuck is that?' Russo said and he looked at Daniel.
Daniel recognised it as the map Royce showed him from the phone, the picture of the maps of the warehouses that belonged to Engrave. Each of the warehouses that had those tunnels had big X's over them.
'What does the X's mean?' Sampson asked.
Daniel leapt back down and his iris went grey. He kneeled down and put his ear to the floor.
'What is he doing?' Sampson asked.
'You're asking me like I know.' Russo said.
'Please guys I need you to be silent.' Daniel said as he tried to listen in.
'At least he said please.' Sampson said and Russo nodded.
Daniel could hear a fair beep beep that came from below. He pressed his ear in more to the ground and the beeping got louder. His eyes grew as the beeping became faster and faster. 'Shit.'
'What?' Russo said.
Daniel grabbed the both of them by the waist and leapt into the air as a rumble hit the ground and fire rose, raged and exploded from beneath the three.
They smashed through the cladded roof with Daniel who took the majority of the force of that collision. The force of the explosion pushed to the three into the path of the road and Daniel somersaulted a few times with both Russo and Sampson who screamed at the top of their lungs and they held on tight.
Daniel landed with both feet planted hard on the road's surface and he dropped both Russo and Sampson. They kissed the ground thankful to be alive.
'What in the fuck?' Sampson said. 'What in the fuck?'
Russo looked at the exploded warehouse with debris that flew high into the night sky and landed all around the area. 'He's blowing all them spots on that floor map right?'
Daniel just looked at them. He nodded at Russo. 'I need to get to the station.'
'We can take you.' Russo said.
'I have a quicker way there.'
15
Royce passed Erica a cup of coffee. She said thanks. They were sat in his office. Erica watched officers on the main floor, loaded clips into their various guns.
'Ninety percent of the liquid must be caffeine.' Royce said.
Erica laughed as she took a sip immediately.
'You never let it cool down?' asked Royce as he blew into his cup.
'I like it hot.' Erica said as she finished her sip.
'There's an innuendo there somewhere.' Royce smiled.
'You really are a man.' Erica said.
'Glad I proved it.' Royce said. Then he looked at Erica with a concerned gaze 'She is okay? Alyssa?'
'She's fine Royce.' Erica said. 'She's safe.'
Royce nodded. He just needed to hear it again. 'You think Bridgewater is okay?'
Daniels came running in. 'The warehouse, the crime scene warehouse just exploded.'
'What?' Erica and Royce both stood up.
Daniel came in with Russo and Sampson who both now looked a little worse for wear.
Then another call from outside 'THREE MORE ENGRAVE WAREHOUSES HAVE GONE UP!!'
'What?' Erica and Royce asked more confused at the three of them together with seemingly no antagonism.
'I feel sick.' Sampson said.
'Yeah what the fuck was that?' Russo said as he looked a little woozy.
They both clearly were affected by travelling through a portal for the first time.
'Marco's planted bombs at the warehouse. Whatever he's going to do, I think he's going to do it now.' Daniel said.
'What do you want us to do?' Royce said, but Daniel had already left the office and strode towards the hallway that led to interrogation rooms. Royce and Erica followed. 'You did hear what I asked?'
'I did.'
'And?'
'Last line of defence. If, when Marco gets to Oliver, we will be waiting for him.' Daniel said as they got to the interrogation room door.
Royce opened it and as they did they saw Oliver Harris stood up and, his head pointed up with his eyes closed as he said muttered under his breath. 'What are you doing?'
Oliver smiled and bowed his head a little and then raised it putting his head at the eyeline of the three, but his eyes remained closed.
Daniel moved to the front of the three. 'Your monster has destroyed your warehouses.'
'It doesn't matter.' Oliver said.
'Bullshit.' Daniel said. 'Why? Why doesn't it matter?'
'Because, they are,' Oliver opened his eyes and he smiled what looked like the devil's smile, 'here.'
'Who?'
'My Greycloaks.'
Daniel's irises went grey again. He did not think of doing this, so this meant that danger was incoming. He saw something that was coming into the station at great speed. 'GO!' He screamed at Royce and Erica and pushed them of the room as he was hit with an RPG and blasted out of the room.