The hooded man keeps staring at Jason as he walks away from the bloodied floor in front of the passengers and sits down on the seat overlooking them on the far end of the cabin.
Seventy Eight
The bolt on the rifle snaps back once again. This time the torque is meaningful, as if the sound describes the feeling in the air. The man aims the scope east. The cars pull in. One patrolling Lexus is stationed at the front. Blues and reds spiral out of the car’s windshield as the doors of the front car open. The neon lights escape the gaps in the windows and hit the pavement, lighting it up as shadows block the sun. Two armed men step out of the flashing front car just as the middle stretch limo pulls up. The shiny black limo grinds to a halt and remains idle as another Lexus pulls in tightly behind the limo in the middle. The man feels beads of sweat drop down the side of his face as he steadies his aim. For a long moment there is no movement from him or the cars below. The only thing moving is the rippling flag in the wind attached to the front bonnet of the limo. The crowd erupts as the armed men in suits open the far door of the limo. The lights from the stationary Lexus’s buffer off the matt black shoes that peak out of the limo door just before they hit the ground. The president emerges from the car waving as a round of applause echoes the street. The man steadies his rifle, the wind picks up slightly as he nervously moves his finger onto the trigger. He pans his reticule over the president’s head and waits for the right moment. The convoy of human flesh consisting of two armed guards at each side of the president coerce him down the street. They pass the Lexus at the front, the red and blue lights reflect off the right sided guards sunglasses. The man finalizes his aim and presses the trigger. The bullet dips in the wind and hits its mark. The red and blue lights are met with a redder dinge as the guards sunglasses are spattered with residue. The crowd screams in unison just as the sound of the bullet catches up. The popping sound alerts a sea of police man cordoning off the surrounding area for the convoy. One of the guards with sunglasses pulls out his side arm and sweeps the area. The secret police guards are bent down over the president as he lies on his back. Blood surrounds the corpse in a pool of red. The panic from the onlookers is loud and hectic. The rifle man is downstairs in minutes as he makes his way through the hotels kitchen. He pushes through the pot washers and slams the fire exit door open. The chefs look on at each other in confusion as the sound of sirens echo in the distance.
Seventy Nine
‘So this angle covers the whole area of the toilets?’ Asks Shaw as the man twiddles a dial on the massive CCTV console.
‘Yep’
‘So were going to see everything?’ Asks Shaw once again
‘Yeah, he’s just walking in now; I’ll play it from the moment he steps up to the urinal.
Eddie turns to Shaw and nods his head as they both hover over the man’s shoulder as he presses a button unfreezing the crystal clear image on the screen. The TV shows Frank lumbering over the urinal. Both Eddie and Chief Shaw keep their eyes on the door in the distance of the shot. They both wait in anticipation to see who steps through it. Their daze is interrupted by the CCTV operator.
‘Holy shit’ the man gasps
They break their stare from the door on the screen and dart their eyes to Frank who is being flung around. They see Frank’s head get driven into the urinal and him get thrown into the wall. They both look at each other in shock as the man replays the incident a few times, pausing it and playing it. He lets it play on after a third play through until an officer walks into the shot and calls for back up as Frank lays on the floor unconscious.
‘What in God’s name was that?’ Asks Eddie
The CCTV operator looks on in shock and then turns his head to the DA.
‘I have no idea. It’s like he beat himself up.’
‘No way, I can’t believe he would do that. There must be another explanation. Could the tape have been tampered with? Maybe someone digitally enhanced it and got rid of the attacker.’ Asks Shaw
The man twizzles his chair around to face both Shaw and Smith, the chair squeaking as he does so.
‘That’s not possible. I’ve been here for all of my shift. I haven’t left this post, not even to take a leak.’ Explains the man
Shaw shakes his head in disbelief.
‘So you’re telling me, Frank McKenzie beat himself up in the toilets, smashed his own head into a urinal, twice! And finished himself off by catapulting himself head first into a hard wall?’ asks Eddie.
‘It appears so’ States the CCTV operator.
‘Wow and I thought I had problems’ Says Shaw.
‘What a nut job’ Adds the operator
Shaw’s face lights up.
‘You think he knows about his brother?’
Eddie turns to the operator and signals him to leave the room. He obliges and hurriedly walks out leaving Shaw and Smith in the room alone.
‘What makes you think that?’ Asks Eddie
‘I don’t know, maybe he wants to blame me for keeping his brother’s death from him. Not to mention him attacking me, he could easily set me up for the fall and get my badge pulled.’
‘Not with that CCTV evidence. You’d be clear of him setting you up for assault. It just doesn’t make sense. I know Frank is a bit crazy, I mean after all that’s what makes him a good Detective. I just don’t think he’d physically assault himself in a bathroom. ’
‘You’re not wrong there Eddie. Whatever it is we need to find out what really happened.’
Eighty
‘Alright folks, this is it. Washington has caved into pressure and is allowing us to proceed with the extraction mission into the M.I.T building. The rules are pretty simple. Me and Detective Frank McKenzie will be running the operation and you men will be leading us into the fray. The mandate for the mission is as follows. All resistance aimed at us when we enter the building will be met with lethal force. Bear in mind that this is a rescue mission. We need all the hostages alive. So aim for the dome. A few shots will do. I don’t want a hail storm in the building. We cannot be taking any casualties. Innocents need to be protected so no spraying. Second of all, the capturing of Connor Chase is essential. Washington wants him alive. I’m sure the only reason for that being is that they want to make him into an example to stop any potential copy cats recreating his carnage. The rest is pretty straight forward. We will go over the plans in the van on the way there. Keep your wits about you ladies and gentleman. Stay frosty out there, any questions?’ Asks Mullins as he stands in front of a group of eight men and two woman wearing flak jackets.
Frank McKenzie is standing next to him looking on. He gingerly raises his arm with a smirk on his face. The surrounding group of officers quietly laugh to themselves in anticipation of what Frank has to say. Mullins turns to Frank and sighs.
‘Yes Detective?’ He asks
‘Just one question Officer Mullins.’ Says Frank
‘Spit it out then’
Frank smiles at the tall scrawny officer
‘It’s just I’m a bit confused. Why is it that Chief Shaw teamed me up with a wannabe Power Ranger?’
The officers ignite in laughter. Mullins looks on in frustration.
‘That’s a good question Detective. I’m wondering something similar myself.’
‘Is that so…?’
‘I’m wondering why the Chief has teamed me up with an abusive, alcoholic asshole that only cares about himself. I mean Frank, if you don’t enjoy my company then why don’t you have a little chat with one of those voices in your head? Only a crazy fool like you can be that naive to think that everybody in the department hasn’t noticed what a fruit loop you are.’