Red Eye

Chapter 4: The Pier

After a 45 minute drive to the edge of the city, Rex and Joel finally arrive at Vex City Boardwalk. Even though it was a weekday, it was surprisingly empty. The stands, restaurants, and stores were all empty and all the amusement attractions had a scarce amount of people on them. Rex and Joel quickly run down the boardwalk.

"You know where the arcade is?" Joel asks. Rex doesn't say anything and keeps running.

"Rex?"

"You'll know when you see it." he responds. The two run down the boardwalk for what seems like an eternity. Joel feels his legs getting weaker as they go along.

"What I would give to relax on the beach right now." he expresses.

"Shut up," Rex interrupts. "Look." Joel looks ahead and finally sees people.

"So this is where they all were," he says. Joel looks at the building they're all crowded around.

"Shit," Rex says. "Why the hell did it have to be here of all places." There was a massive sign on top of the white and pink building that read "ARCADE". The two detectives run up to the crowd outside the arcade. Joel tries to insert himself into the sea of people, but to no avail, he can't seem to break through. He gives up and walks back to Rex.

"There's too many people, I can't make it through." Rex sighs, takes something out his pocket, and walks to the crowd, all signaling for Joel to follow him.

"HEY!!" Rex shouts as loud as he could. The people towards the back of the crowd go silent, and turn to look at him. They see Rex, holding up a badge.

"VEX CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT COMING THROUGH," he yells. "I NEED EVERYONE TO BACK AWAY OR I WILL BE FORCED TO TAKE YOU INTO CUSTODY." That seems to get the people towards the front's attention. Rex and Joel walk forward as the crowd parts to make way for them.

"You weren't going to actually arrest them right?" Joel asks as they walk. He sighs after not getting a response from Rex. The two finally arrive at the front, close to the arcade, where they find yellow tape and a singular officer as the only things preventing the crowd from getting too close to the body.

"Who the hell are you?" the officer asks.

"My name is Rex Black, and like you I'm here on behalf of the Vex City Police Department," he says, pointing at his badge. "Now if you don't mind, why don't you let myself and Detective Strickland through." The officer, clearly upset, lets Rex and Joel through to inspect the body. They walk in to look at the victim, but not before Rex turns around.

"Why isn't there anyone turning people around?" Rex asks the officer. "Where are the other officers?"

"They haven't turned up," the officer explains. "You're the first people to show." As if on cue, a group of officers run into the crowd, pushing people aside to get to the front.

"Who the hell are you?" one of the officers asks when they finally arrive at the front.

"I'm Detective Rex Black and this is Detective Joel Strickland."

"So you're the ones who have been assigned the Underworld case."

"Is that what they're calling it?" Joel asks. Rex looks at Joel with a face that screams shut up.

"Now that you're here I want five of you up here, guarding this side of the scene, five of you guarding the other side, and the rest to work on clearing the area of civilians.

"Where do you get off ordering us around?" the officer asks. "You're just a detective who's overstayed his welcome in this new era of police."

"I'm the investigation lead, you're just a third rate beat cop, who's on the edge of being sacked and losing everything he owns," Rex fires back. "Now don't risk losing your job, and do what I say." The officer, clearly stunned at how Rex knew about his personal situation, followed orders and divided the officers into groups to do their jobs. However, instead of clearing the crowds out in a civilized manner, the officers forcefully push the crowd back, causing the people to become enraged. Although miffed at the approach the officers took, Rex decides to do his job and steps under the yellow tape, with Joel closely following behind him.