SPIKES

Untitled Part 3

Jacob Clark had just finished a long shift, it was 5pm. Only time for a shower and a drive across town to have supper with someone called Charlie Delano. All he was told by Rodriguez was that she had been sent from Washington in an effort to break the deadlock in the case. The only other piece of advice he was given was, "beware she is really sharp" The chosen venue was Alfredo's Breakfast and Supper at the corner of 56th and Vine a place known to Jacob, as it was here in this district that he spent most of his childhood. As he walked through the door Alfredo, all five foot three inches of him came marching from behind the Bar, "Jacob, I ama so sorry fora your family" he said kissing him on both cheeks. "You have a younga lady waiting fora you, my Menu tonight fora you isa free, Goda blessa you Jacob" "Miss or is it Mrs Delano I presume? said Jacob slowly sitting down opposite this beautiful lady. "It is Miss" she answered but Charlie will do just fine. Have you had a hard day? "Tiring more than anything" answered Jacob, "But nothing that a cold beer and supper with a beautiful woman wont fix" "Steady Mr Clark, this is strictly a formal meeting but I do admit to being very hungry" she said picking up the Menu. The hour and a half that followed was casual chit-chat. Charlie Delano was trying to gain an insight into the victims, their families and what out of all of the millions of people in New York could make them a target for the Spikes. She asked about his father, who was he? Had he any money problems, did he have any hobbies outside of his work, was he a calm or violent man, was he prone to mood swings, did he believe in God. The same questions applied to his mother and to her relationship with his father. Could his sister have been mixing with the wrong crowd? Jacob enjoying the company was only too happy to answer her questions. "My Father was a complex man" he told her, "My mother was very much a stay at home person while my father made a life for himself outside of their relationship, to what extent I do not know" he said, "But being quite a bit older than my sister Claire and a lot older than Trent I could see at times she wondered if their was a third party in their lives. He never spoke of where he went or whom he mixed with and although as a father he was a good provider and fair, the fact that I never returned home following University meant that as two adults with differing outlooks in life, we were never really that close. I must admit that the Cocaine thing surprised me but then again in my profession you see it all where drugs are concerned, there seems to be no boundaries between age and gender, as they say in sport, the field is wide open. As for my mother now she was religious, a fully practicing catholic. Chapel on a Sunday was the highlight of her week, no foul language in the house and a prayer before each meal. Claire was rebellious, if you had said that there were traces of Cocaine in her blood-stream I would have been less surprised. I know she was a worry to my mother, my father less so. Can we stop now my beer is warm and quite undrinkable"              "All of that was most informative Jacob" said Delano, signalling to the waitress for two more cold ones. It will help along with other related crimes to build up a picture the types of crimes that the so called SPIKES are drawn to and the involvement of their victims" "What do you mean the SPIKES? asked Jacob, "Are you telling me that this gang of online maniacs are responsible for the death of my family and the abduction of my young brother? Charlie Delano knew instantly that she had said the wrong thing and would now face the wrath of Detective Rodriguez and his Captain. "It is only one of many theories" she answered trying to make light of the situation, I am sure that Detectives Rodriguez and Pollock will keep you up to speed with any developments. On that sour note the night was over with both parties hoping but not saying that they hoped they would meet again.                                                                                                                      The 9am update brought the usual mish-mash of facts, theories, suggestions and unsubstantiated statements, to which end Manny Rodriguez opened and connived procedures within an hour as he was desperate to get into the mind of Charlie Delano. The idea of a complete change in direction appealed to him. "Ok, meeting over" he told his team, "Now all of you, (there were only four) grab yourselves a coffee and be back in ten" When they returned FBI Agent Charlie Delano was present. Rodriguez gave her the floor. She began by explaining in great detail what her profile of the SPIKES would be and the suggestions for the infiltration of their gang via the Internet. The most obvious question was the first one. "What if our virtual criminal is contacted and invited to join and they are indeed a true live cult who meet in some obscure place, what do we do? asked Detective Ryan Peterson, who was in charge of all things technical on the case. "That bridge will be crossed when and if we get to that stage" answered Manny Rodriguez. "And if we had to move to undercover then it would be purely on a voluntary basis" "It would seem then that we should be prepared" said Gena Pollock, "I would surmise that our real life criminal would come from someone in this room it would follow that the height,  build, even the accent from whomever is the volunteer should already be installed in our virtual presentation of that person" "I'll do it" said Ryan Peterson with no hint of hesitation. "Anyone else? asked Rodriguez. There were no takers. "Well let's get on with it" he said. "What image did you have in mind Agent Delano" asked Peterson. "I was thinking of Thor the Hammer God and portray him as the Hammer of Vengeance" she answered. "But first (she was now addressing Rodriguez) we must work out what rocks their boat. Why do they commit violent random crimes against seemingly random people with no evidence of profit or gain." She told him of her discussion with Jacob Clark which gave a whole new insight into his father Steven and even his sister Claire. Was their any similarities between the lives of the Clark family and any of their other victims? Manny Rodriguez was buzzing, he had an adrenaline rush that he had not felt for the past ten years. "Ok" he said first looking at Ryan Peterson, "Get to work on your computer and build me an image of Thor based on yourself. Over the next month go on line and claim responsibility for some fictitious crimes, nothing too violent, just calling out the SPIKES letting them know that you are the new kid in town" "Next was Clarence Weldon, a Black African, eighteen stone, no shit Detective with twenty three years experience on the force with the reputation of a bloodhound. If it was there to be found Clarence would find it. "Look into the lives of Steven Clark and Claire Clark" said Rodriguez, "pull the files on all the other cases and check for similarities, and for fuck sake go on a diet, the force cannot afford a bigger car" Fortunately both men were like brothers ever since Weldon had hooked up with Rodriguez as a Rookie Detective back in the day."What do you want me to do Boss? asked Gena Pollock, feeling left out in the cold. "We will discuss it when there is three coffee's, two with, one without sitting on my desk, now go" answered Rodriguez pointing to the Coffee maker.                                                    "Where do you see us now? he asked Delano, picking up his newly delivered drink. Charlie Delano leaned back on her chair her hands cupped over her face. "I am convinced that these five men and one woman are, in English words, American Aristocrats. Wealthy, bored, with ambitions to shock a City into a state of fear. They are above the Law, they have no respect for the system. On one hand they could be punishing people who have broken their rules almost certainly with the involvement of drug dealing. While on the other hand they could see themselves as saviours of the common people a type of vigilante group again with drug involvement. Either way they are vicious and dangerous and must be stopped" "I agree" said Rodriguez. "And I can see, only because it is fresh in our minds, that there is mileage in the alter ego of Steven Clark and, or the company kept at College by Claire Clark, only time will tell. Now as for you Gena, you are no longer my Partner, I am assigning you to the Partnership of Agent Charlie Delano. Don't feel restrained use you own initiative, but I would also say listen and learn"