SPIKES

Untitled Part 11

9,am Gena Pollock and Ryan Peterson were heading south to Colby Island and the Marine Training Center at Fort George. They were aware of the hostility and red tape that they would face as the Military regardless of the offence preferred to deal with it in-house. This however was an investigation into the crime of mass murder carried out on civilian land. All of their hopes were relying on Detective Rodriguez who seemed to think he had some influence when it came to the Armed Forces.                                                                                                                                                               Clarence Weldon and Agent Chris Paine were still in the office tracking down the address of Richie Norman their third SPIKE who was by now having his first breakfast in custody. No phone calls, no contact with anyone was the explicit instructions of Manny Rodriguez. It took very little effort to come up with an address, it seemed that as soon as the letters FBI are mentioned people become either very scared or very patriotic therefor when they contacted the head office of Norman's Auto's the young lady in reception was on her Boss's mid-town Apartment which he shared with his not so longtime girlfriend.                                                                                                                  Delano had gathered together all of the information collated by Ryan Peterson on Zoe Prince. It seemed her roots were in Chicago. Born to Claudette and Antone Prince thirty seven years earlier. She attended Bartholomew Middle School before moving on to Castleton High at the age of fifteen. Police records show numerous visits to her family home regarding violence from her alcoholic father who by the time she was sixteen had gone A- wall and would never be seen again. Her mother was investigated over his disappearance, but no charges were brought against her, Although suspiciously there was someone else with their slippers under the bed within two weeks of his demise. This shortly after resulted in the young Zoe being taken into care, allegedly for her own safety. There for the time being the trail ended.                                                Manny Rodriguez had a Military background which very few of his colleagues were aware of. A time in his life that he very rarely spoke of (a) because of things he had seen, and (b) for purely personal reasons to protect his family. He had served in Vietnam as a young Marine witnessing things as he said in an interview at the time, "No human being should ever lay their eyes upon" He had received an Order of Merit commendation for bravery in that whilst a prisoner of War in a horrific Jungle location the young Manny Rodriguez had organized an escape as the brutality and starvation would have resulted in the certain death of the sixty US soldiers being held there. Over a six month period he planned the breakout bringing on board all of the servicemen still able to walk. On the specified night he and thirty two others using makeshift weapons fashioned from wood and stone overpowered the twenty five heavily armed North Vietnamese soldiers as on this night most of them were entertaining young women brought in for their pleasure. There was no mercy, all were killed along with six of his brave comrades. They made their way carrying the sick and injured through seventy miles of thick jungle until reaching a small village on the banks of the Me-Kong River. There was no resistance these people had suffered badly at the hands of the Vet-Kong. They loaded the injured onto a flotilla of small boats moored at a makeshift Jetty and headed south. Traveling only by night they were able to avoid the numerous Gun Boats that patrolled these waters. On the sixth morning they were spotted by a US Helicopter and a rescue mission was launched. The whole episode changed young Manny Rodriguez, he came home and married his childhood sweetheart but he had become distant and angry, the marriage wouldn't last. By the age of twenty five he was in therapy but as time does, time healed his mind. Now Manny had a phone call to make, he was calling in a favour. Unknown to him, one of the young soldiers that he carried through that jungle was the son of an Army Major who was now a retired Four Star General who had over the years kept in touch and had even attended Manny's second marriage to his wife to this day. He made the call, after the niceties were over he explained his predicament. "Tell your officers to turn up at the gate Manny" he said, "and leave the rest to me. I owe you much more than this old friend, now keep in touch"                                                                                                                                                                                      Weldon and Paine arrived at the Apartment of Richie Norman. They were halted in their tracks by a very large black Concierge. "Can I be of assistance gentlemen? he asked. Clarence Weldon not a small man himself voiced where they were heading, showing his NYPD badge. "I am afraid Mr Norman is not in residence" said the over sized desk clerk. "We would like to see his Apartment" said Agent Paine, now producing his FBI credentials. "That don't mean shit to me" said the Clerk. "Do you have a warrant? "No we do not" answered Chris Paine, "We also do not have your name, which you will now furnish us with or you will be charged with hindering a serious Police investigation and I am sure that our down town Police Computers will come up with a name just like yours and a nice little picture to match. Now come upstairs with us and open that fucking door. You may stay in the room while we look around. Have no worries over Mr Norman turning up we already know where he is. Do you feel me? "I don't want any trouble" he replied, walking to the elevator and pressing the eleventh floor.                                                                      Delano had discovered that Zoe Prince entered a home for delinquent kids under a Court order. She contacted the School which was still in existence. "Hello, Belmont School of Correction can I help you? said an older sounding lady. "FBI Agent Delano" she answered, "I am making inquiries into one of your previous inmates and wondered how far back your records go? The person in question is a Zoe Prince who would have been with you around twenty five to thirty years ago" There was a short pause and then. "She was here" said the woman, "And so was I. A proper little tearaway if I remember. Is she in Prison? "Not at all" answered a surprised Charlie Delano. If I mentioned the name Richard Norman would that ring any bells? "Richie Norman" she said, "You mean the guy with the car thing going on in New York? Same again a tearaway" Now she had Delano's full attention. "What about Lancaster? asked Delano. "Nothing, don't recall no Lancaster" she answered. To Delano that did not matter so much as Lancaster could be her married name. "Can I come and see you? asked Delano. "Of course you can, as far as I recall this is still a free country" was her answer. I work Monday through Thursday 9,am to 4,pm and she put down the phone. Delano told Rodriguez who immediately booked both of them on the next available flight to the Windy City.                                                                                                                                    Peterson and Pollock arrived at Fort George, as they drove through the right hand side of the island which separated the two in and out check points Peterson turned to Gena Pollock. "Here come the bull shit, this is where you have to prove you are an American Citizen.Detectives Peterson NYPD and Pollock NYPD" he said to the completely upright twenty year old robot standing beside the car. "Can you direct us to your Commanding Officer please? "Do you have papers to allow you entry to this facility? Peterson, "No". "Have you in the last three days made an appointment to speak with an Officer? Peterson "NO". Are you a member of, or have you ever been a member of a Terrorist Organization? Peterson "No, and I never smoke Pot and I am not Gay" said a now frustrated Ryan Peterson. Before he finished his sentence four more lookalike soldiers came from nowhere and surrounded the car. "Here we go" said Peterson looking across at his companion. "Move your vehicle to the compound at the rear of this building and exit the vehicle" said a soldier with three stripes on his arm. From there they proceeded to virtually take the car apart piece by piece. Detective Peterson played a silent game as he knew only to well from past experience that once you enter the gates you are in another world ruled by robotic figures who never question, there only pleasure in life being an occasional acknowledgement from their Peers. As they finished the demolition four began to walk away, the one still standing, with no hint of remorse in his voice said, "You will remove this debris back into your car. When you have done so you will follow the yellow line marked Exit and leave this Facility. Only when you have acquired the correct paperwork will you return. Have I made myself clear? Gena Pollock until now holding down her temper, moved towards the young soldier to voice her answer to his question, when from nowhere a voice shouted, "Hay hold on soldier step back take a breath" said someone with obvious authority. "You must be Detectives Peterson and Pollock, we've been expecting you. I am Captain Chuck Nolan, I will be your escort while you are on our Camp. A meeting with Commander Brooking has been arranged for twelve hundred hours, that gives us time for coffee and a chat. What do ya say? And soldier get this car shipshape before the Detectives leave"                                                                                                                       Weldon and Paine searched the Apartment of Richie Norman, their first priority to find his Laptop and confirm to his leader that the job was done, the last thing they needed right now was to spook the three remaining SPIKES when they still had no idea of the whereabouts of the hostages. The Apartment was huge but to save time they concentrated on the most un-obvious places. Weldon had conscripted the help of the over-sized Concierge who had somehow squeezed his hands into a pair of bulk standered NYPD issue gloves and was rummaging around like Hercule Poirot. For three hours they moved things and replaced them as they had no search warrant. when from nowhere Hercule was having a drink of water in the kitchen, his huge feet knocked out a piece of kick- board beneath the sink and there was the Laptop. Chris Paine quickly opened it and tried the passwords heading from V one to V six missing out V four which was Zoe Prince. He reached three and bingo they were in. There was already a message asking for a mission update, Agent Paine said simply, "Mission Complete" They locked up the Apartment, gave their thanks and said their goodbye's to Hercule and headed back to the office.     In the Officers Mess at Fort George Captain Nolan had turned coffee time into a question and answer session, but with Peterson and Pollock now realizing that through something that Manny Rodriguez had done, they were in charge. Therefor there were plenty of questions and very few answers. "I think we will save it until we meet your Commander if you don't mind" he told the frustrated Captain. At Twelve hundred hours with not a second more or less the pair entered the Office of Commander Conrad Brooking and before the door was closed behind them he was losing it. "I don't know what the fuck is going on here" he shouted, "But when people in high places start banging on my door telling me that I will receive a visit from two less than important officers from some Mid Town New York Precinct regarding one of my senior Officers then it makes me grind my teeth. Do you understand? "Sorry for the intrusion" said Detective Peterson, "But we are here on a very sensitive inquiry and it would be best if we speak alone, if you could please ask your Captain to leave" Brooking stared into the face of Peterson for what seemed like an hour, and then. "Leave us Captain" he said , his eyes switching to his officer. "Now what the fuck is this all about Detective? "We are investigating a spate of homicides committed by the same people or person Commander Brooking" said Gena Pollock, "And have very good reason to believe that your Captain Delilah Lancaster is involved in these crimes, and to this end we would be grateful for a look at her quarters on the Base? Brooking at this became even more aggravated. "My first instinct is to tell you in no uncertain terms where to get off" he replied, "But it would seem that you have influence in high places, therefor I will have Captain Nolan escort you to her quarters and I would hope that you pay me the same courtesy and avail me of anything that you find. Am I understood" "Completely Commander, we appreciate your help" answered Ryan Peterson.