In the weeks that followed the investigation took a turn for the worst. An expensive Town House on Manhattan Island was set alight and burned to the ground. Responsibility was claimed by the SPIKES saying "Do what you are told, you were warned" The owners were well known in the Property Rental market, but when the Managing Director Kelvin Spice and his son Reggie Spice were called in for questioning with regard to the fire, all they would say was "No comment" But the fact that the whole family were leaving America on a four month extended holiday gave Rodriguez and his team food for thought. What ever had happened they were taking the threat from the Gang very seriously. Jacob Clark and Charlie Delano met for a second time, but this time in a proper New York Restaurant. "I love culture" commented Jacob, "But you cannot beat a nice T-Bone steak with all the trimmings, to me that is American culture. Charlie Delano did not disagree, still her fair was a straight forward cold ham salad, her figure being more important than culture. "Any more information" asked Jacob cutting into a steak the size of a large foot. "You know I can't speak about the case" answered Delano, "I think I may have said too much the last time we spoke" "But I need news of my younger brother, what about these so called Spikes are you still pursuing that line? "No comment" said Delano laughingly, "I know how serious this is, believe me I do, and I can assure you that every avenue is being investigated, but in cases like this where so many people are involved, it just takes time and patience, at this moment this is all that I have" "Ok, I admit defeat" said Jacob, "But not on my families case, on this steak I am stuffed. So what about Miss Profiler, how would you profile yourself? "My goodness" said Delano, "I have never been asked that question. But I suppose I would describe myself as someone who was ambitious, truthful, in love with cold meat salads, accepts dinner invitations from strange men, loves Beyonce, but at the same time the Rolling Stones. I guess in another life I would have been a rock chick. Favorite song, My Oh My , by Sade Cafe, but enough of me what about you? Jacob didn't hesitate. "Well just this morning, and he sang, For some strange reason I got out of my bed-walked across the room-looked in the mirror-what did I see-I saw the devil he was looking at me-My Oh My" They both broke into uncontrollable laughter. Delano's distorted mind profiling a Rock God performing open heart surgery to songs by AC/DC and KISS. It brought to an end the best evening she had had in an otherwise depressing three weeks in New York and ignited a feeling of vulnerability in her she had not felt for a long time, and it felt good. Detective Ryan Peterson was ready to unveil his Thor alter ego. He had pulled out all of the stops and created a virtual human, but in two different guises. One dressed in black, deep, dark almost sinister. The other white, not over friendly but straight to the point, a man of the people. Kind of Tor meets Robin Hood. He explained, "Until we have the findings of Detective Weldon we do not know how to match up to the SPIKES. If we are going to get their attention we must be on the same page. I have allowed for three different voices for each character, I will let you hear them when the time is right. I also think that we should distance ourselves from the SPIKES, create our own base possibly outside of the City, to be to close could set alarm bells ringing. Maybe create an involvement by claiming responsibility for something that they have done, and then come off the radar. "I completely agree" said Charlie Delano, beginning to walk around the room, "Their ego's for good or bad could be their downfall. What you have done is incredible, maybe you should be sitting in my chair, but seriously has anyone heard from Clarence Weldon? "He is on the road" answered Rodriguez, "He will be back Friday so empty your calendars people for the weekend. One other thing Santori wants to see us down at the Morgue at 9am Thursday, Pollock and Delano you will come with me. Now look serious and interested Captain Malone is watching us throw that dammed glass door" The following morning they waited at the Morgue for over an hour until Leslie Santori arrived, dark glasses, coffee in hand remnants of a good night out, no sign of embarrassment and no apologies. "Ok" she said, "I have been digging into these bodies, no pun intended, and it is clear to me that the amputations and dissections were carried out by a medical professional. For although done with for example some kind of carving knife or garden tool they are accurate and precise striking the exact arteries that would lead to bleeding to death very slowly. On closer inspection of Steven Clark and his wife Sylvia I found very small initials D,L carved with what could only be a scalpel or a very small sharp knife. On Steven it was on his chest plate and in the case of Sylvia her left hand which was lying on the floor. Claire Clark had the letters S,M scratched on the soul of her left foot. These initials are barely visible to the human eye. As for the pigment found on the cheek of Claire Clark it is from material used in the production of bullet proof vests for the Military and the Police Force. I traced its origins to two factories, one in Flagstaff Arizona, the other in Waco Texas, I have requested samples they are on their way as we speak" "Thank you Santori, as usual great work" said Rodriguez, "I think we have some exhuming to do. Would you be willing to examine the victims in the other cases Leslie? he asked. "Of coarse" she answered, "These bastards must be stopped" Rodriguez now turned to Gena Pollock, "I want this set in motion" he told her, "We will need an exhumation order signed by a High Court Judge. Try Randolph Pratt he is sympathetic to this type of case and apart from that he owe's me" (Two years previous Manny Rodriguez had arrested his son on possession of class A drugs with intent to distribute which could have seen him incarcerated for a minimum of five years and thrown out of his prestigious place at Harvard. He called the Judge to come and collect his son, no charges were filled) 8am Friday, Detective Clarence Weldon was ready. He had spent the past eight days sifting through a mountain of evidence relating to every crime where responsibility was claimed by the so called SPIKES. As the team arrived there was an expectation that what he had uncovered coupled with the Forensic findings of Leslie Santori they were on the verge of a breakthrough. There was complete silence as Walden took the floor. "There is a pattern" he began, "And the pattern points to Vigilante, but vigilante with a twist. These six individuals set out to stop crime but with a willingness to commit serious crime in order to achieve their goals. Example one, in the case of the Spice family, they were in the process of selling of two large Apartment blocks housing in excess of two hundred tenants for redevelopment into a Shopping Mall. A Mall in which they would retain a 35% shareholding. All residents had been given three months to vacate their homes with no discussions on remunerations nor help to find alternate accommodation. My guess is that the SPIKES tried to stop the sale but were completely ignored by Kelvin Spice and for this he almost payed the ultimate price, I say ultimate, I will explain later, In the case of the Clark family I discovered that Sylvia Clark has a brother who is a multi million dollar drug dealer here in New York and I know you will recognize the name, Paul Deacon" "Jesus that is heavy duty" remarked Rodriguez, now sitting upright, Detective Weldon had his full attention. It would seem that the SPIKES were determined to put an end to his empire but found getting close to him nigh on impossible. I guess they would have possibly through intermediaries made threats against his family, threats he chose to ignore which were then carried out. Both of these crimes fit with the facts and evidence of all of the SPIKES crimes. Therefore I would agree with FBI Agent Delano that these people are very well connected and highly professional. If I could I would put a strange analogy to these facts. Back in the 11/12th century there lived a Mongol leader named Genghis Khan. Genghis swept over the whole continent of Asia with an Army of around half a million men, women and children. They say when on the march they stretched back thirty miles. Genghis had a no nonsense approach to achieving his goals. When he camped outside of, lets say a Chinese walled city. He had a three strike system which he stood by and never changed. If the inhabitants left the city on day one all would live, if day two all men would die, if day three all adults over eighteen would die, if they refused to leave and he could not gain entry to the city he starved them out and killed everyone, and the city burned to the ground. He had no need of wealth only the power to rule. On one occasion it took his army three months of every day executions to prove his point. In the case of the Spice family I learned from a Company Director that Kelvin Spice had been given a three day ultimatum. He ignored day one and his youngest son suffered a freak accident at school falling down a flight of stairs, breaking his right hand and left leg, on day two his house burned to the ground and after rescinding the evictions on day three the family as you know left the country on an extended holiday. As for the Clark family, Silvia's brother Paul Deacon was given a similar ultimatum which according to my informants he threw back in the faces of the SPIKES, which ended in the ultimate sacrifice. I would say once again that with this theme flowing through almost all of the cases whom ever these people are they have influence in every walk of life" As Detective Weldon finished Rodriguez accepted a glance from Charlie Delano which said end this meeting now. Rodriguez had been scribbling on small pieces of paper which he passed to all present without saying a word. On each one was written, "Say no more, meet at Mallory's Bar at 5pm. He left the room, contacted Leslie Santori and six hours later without speaking to another soul they were gathered in an alcove at their favorite hangout Mallory's Bar. "Ok" said Rodriguez, "Here's the thing It would appear from Weldon's report that these so called SPIKES are positioned everywhere and that includes the possibility of our own Police Department. Therefore with the exception of the people present we do not discuss our findings with another soul and that includes Captain Malone, leave him to me. Do I make myself clear? All agreed. "Great"
YOU ARE READING
SPIKES
General Fictiona wayward childhood, a way to get even, or are the intentions really good.
