‘Freeze dirt bag!’ Shouts Frank
‘Frank?’ Asks the man
Frank turns the man around and shines the torch in his face. It’s the DA, Eddie Smith.
‘Eddie, what the hell are you doing here?’
‘I was going to ask you the same question Frank’
‘Well I’m sorry to disappoint you Eddie but I’m not taking any questions at this time’
Sixty Two
The year 2006: SIX YEARS BEFORE BOARDING THE TRAIN
Flowers commemorate the entrance to the campus of the Boston High school. Students stand in seldom silence as people continue to lay flowers and ribbons on the campus lawn. A mass of media outlets and news crews are strewn across the entrance of the school overlooking the flowers and students. Sandra Austin is standing on the spot just in front of the school’s Football team sign. She looks at Mike who is signalling her with a five finger countdown, Five, Four, Three, Two, and One.
‘High school teacher Maggie Gardener was found brutally murdered in her home last night. Neighbours complained about a so called ruckus in the early hours of the morning in which Boston PD responded. They arrived on the scene in which her front door was unlocked and open. They walked in and found a horrific scene in which blood was found in nearly every room of the house. They drew their weapons and searched the house for any sign of a body. They found Mrs Gardener on her bed brutally beaten. She was pronounced dead on the scene. The police have just informed us that the teachers’ cause of death was asphyxiation. They have also told us that they suspect the woman was raped after her death. At this moment there are no leads on any suspects. The only thing certain about this case is that Mrs Gardener will be missed by many. As you can see behind me, students and faculty members are paying their respects. Over seven hundred bouquets of flowers have been delivered by hand. The principle has declined to comment on the situation stating and I quote “This is a troubling time for us all, I would rather not comment on such a heinous crime, I will leave the character and resolve of the teachers and students to speak for themselves.” It’s obviously a sad day here in Boston, millions around the country are showing their respects for the decorated teacher who by herself, has lifted a countries standards in teaching, She has won many achievements in her career and was considered one of the more valuable members of the school board. Her mark on teaching will be missed.
This is Sandra Austin reporting live from Boston High.’
Sixty Three
The TV in the incident room flickers back into life as an officer hits the AV button. The screen focuses in and the familiar site of Connor Chase appears on the screen. He is dressed in his white tux; this one seems to be cleaner than the other one, likely a switch.
Chief Shaw is watching on as he turns to the group of officers surrounding him.
‘Who has time to switch tuxedos? I’ve been wearing this cheap suit for nearly two days’ He says, the surrounding officers concurring with nods of their heads.
Shaw looks on intently at the TV screen as it flickers the images of oppression brought by Chase and his men who are standing in formation holding automatic weapons. Shaw thinks how stereotypical an image he is witnessing, the essence of terrorism brought by a group of men who claim to be patriots. The speech begins as Chase enters the shot, his follower’s onscreen part ways much like a crowd giving way to the pope. The importance of the man is evident in the loyalty and brotherhood that is seen in the eyes of the men wearing balaclavas. Chase is the only man whose face is visible, a fact that has been gnawing at Shaw for some time. A man that is not afraid to be associated with the events in Boston. A man that is not afraid to die for his cause.
‘Ladies and gentleman, I’m here once again to bring you, the public some troubling news. News that not only shows the corrupt scattering for the hills, but the brave being sacrificed by the so called good. Where I come from, no man is equal. That is a fact. That being said we all like to think that we are of equal ability and status in this messed up world. That too is a lie. You may be wondering, where is this place you talk of. The place where no one is equal? Well my fellow people, its America. I am an American. Not by choice, because god knows, this country is hell bent on making choices for me, such as where I will go to war, who I can marry. Which sex I should be intimate with. What movies I should watch. What adverts I should see. What president I should obey. What laws I should abide by. Not one of these things is a good thing. In this country we have learned to bite our tongue, obey the rich and do their bidding. If they want a new holiday home, we pay for it through taxes. If I want a new holiday home, I must dream on because I know that the government will cut my wages, and every one else’s wages in the public sector before they give me a pay rise. This here isn’t about money though, that’s not why I have come here to speak about. Yes there are many problems in America, and I, Connor Chase plan on addressing them as the time comes nearer. Today’s problems are our future children’s obstacles. This 28 amendment that I am installing is not one only derived for people’s privacy, its one for the people. It’s the amendment that gives us American citizens the power again, the power that this government has confiscated. It’s because of hard working Americans that they can sell our information, use our information and bargain and burden our lives. It’s because of hard working Americans they can spend billions on wars and so called global missions of peace. It’s hard working Americans that pay for the wages of hard working police, fire department and hospitals. It’s because of this government that all three of these vital commodities are in danger. It’s because of this Government that an undercover cop will die today.’
Shaw’s face whitens as Connor grabs a man into view, wearing a bag over his head, his identity is not certain to anybody, apart from Shaw. Connor smiles as he pulls the white sack from over the unidentified man’s head. It’s Nathan.
‘This is here is Nathan. I am not sure if it’s his real name or just his undercover one. I’m pretty sure it’s not his real name, but that’s beside the point. It’s what Nathan is doing here that tickles my funny bone.’ Says Chase while sadistically tickling Nathan’s elbow
‘Now I’m going to ask you a few questions Nathan is that okay?’
Nathan nods his head, the sweat on his forehead strobing on the TV screen
‘Okay, good to know your cooperative. Let’s get down to this.’
Nathan nods once again, visibly in shock of the current situation he finds himself in.
‘Are you an undercover cop Nathan?’
Nathan nods
‘No, I asked you a questions boy, you will have the decency to answer me!’ Demands chase, his tone ever more aggressive.
‘Yes I am an undercover cop, special forces to be precise.’
‘Oh, Boston SWAT. A man of skill indeed, no wander we snapped you up, you certainly have the credentials. Why are you undercover here then Nathan?’
‘I was assigned to this detail to monitor you as an individual, we suspected you of being a radical, or militia leader.’
‘Oh, that’s pretty accurate then, I am a leader but I wouldn’t say this is a militia. Now I’m going to ask you one final question, who is the bad guy in this scenario, me or the government who put you here with no back up and no weapons.’
Nathan swallows hard as he digests the question, the urgency of the situation ever increasing as Chase hovers over him, Desert Eagle in hand, pressed against Nathans scull.
‘Times ticking away boy’ Says Chase while mimicking looking at a watch. The room goes silence as Chase cocks back the hammer and presses down on the trigger. The impact of the shot at close range rag dolls Nathans head as half of his face implodes from the impact of the deafening shot. His lifeless corpse slides out of view leaving a bloody smear on the wall next to the remains of his head. Connor smiles while whipping down the stainless steel of his barrel, he throws a candid wave at the camera as it goes black. The TV screen erupts with static white noise as Shaw looks on in disbelief.