The Mind Engine

The Case of Mayor Abduction

Chapter 1
A Genius

"Over Here", said a man in elegant black overcoat. M13 looked at his demeanor. It was black, desolate and dark.
Better not mess with this man, thought M13.
A gun, pistol, besides, a cup of tea and a walkie. The atmosphere near this man is silently screaming that he is a danger. M13 was nevertheless confident that he would get out of this sick dark street in middle of night in the outskirts of London without getting a hole in his body. There was a purpose to this enigmatic encounter.
M13 handed out a note to the man, and when he opened it, he felt as if the particles near him have started vibrating. The man was furious.

"Who gave you this? Are you perfectly sure that this is the message?", The calmnless in man's voice said otherwise.
"Yes. I was instructed to hand you this and move.". M13 started walking away. Suddenly he heard the reloading of the pistol behind him. He almost thought that this was the end of his life, until.
"Stop right there, agent. I have a work for you." The man's voice may have slowed the release of epinephrine in his body. His heart was pounding out of his chest.
"I don't have the authority to accept any kind of requests from the client, sir" M13 politely requested the man to stop making him feel like a hostage.
"A farely easy task, and a reward, but death if you deny. I can't see your loss here." The man brought his pistol down. M13 let a sigh of relief.
"What is it?" M13 crackled.
"Meet me here, every Wednesday from the following week till next 4 weeks. I need every information on the Scotland Yard. Something big is about to happen in a few days, or might have already happened." The man explained as they both got their focus interrupted by police sirens in the west part of the street.
"What in the world is happening?" M13 exclaimed with suprise. The man took his belongings and started walking away from the street.
"Remember, next Wednesday, or else I will shoot you in your face." The man shouted from the far.
M13 was somewhat disturbed. What was happening in these old, wicked lands? Who was this man? What was about to happen? What was in that message?

18th October, 2017

A normal morning in London.

Alex was getting ready to go off to the university. He was a young bachelor and so was his roommate and a friend he considers to be his brother, James Rodriguez. Both studied from the prestigious university of Harvard, with both receiving degree with highest honors in psychology and biochemistry. James received in psychology, physics, biochemistry and chemistry. Alex also received in biochemistry, neurology and molecular biology. These days they can be considered sort of unemployed, even though the two of them weren't.

They were young and not so full of energy and that is why they are working as researchers in the nearby King's university.

Alex and James were sitting on the coffee table in their little apartment. James was sipping into his hot coffee in the cold winter morning, while reading the newspaper, his normal daily routine. Alex was preparing his own meal, while also looking at the clock as he was getting late for his work. James was on a holiday today, but sadly, Alex was not as he already took too many holidays this month.

"What's up with the London?" Alex asked, while eating his breakfast. James was silent for a moment. Sometimes, Alex thought that James was a bit weird, always so quiet, calm, expressionless. A look on his face cannot tell you whether he was thinking of green gardens today or a pool of blood.
"Nothing special. Just a robbery in the nearby street." James replied. His reply was as usual nothing special. He spoke it in the calmest way possible for a man. James took another sip of coffee.
"What will you do today, home alone?" Alex asked. He somehow predicted the next reply.
"I have to study about a criminal case about Victor Lustig Files 1920. I can enjoy my own company for a while" James replied. No enthusiasm. This guy was a little too strange. These thoughts struck Alex about 2-3 times a day but anyways he did not care. He and James are friends for almost 7 years now.
"Victor Lustig. Ah, I remember that man, or I guess not...." Alex stuttered. James knew Alex doesn't know, and Alex knew James knew this.
"Fake-"
Ding-Dong
The bell broke off a starting discussion.
"Must be Paul, I asked him to fix the radiator in the-"
"Yes I know, open the door." James ordered.
"Woah, dude. A magical word named please exists." Alex whispered softly. He opened the door in sheer anger. It was not Paul. It was some old man, suited in black overcoat, an elegant hat, no facial hairs, white haired old man. He resembled to a character Alex can't remember he saw in a movie.
"Hello, mister. Is there anything we can help you with?" Alex asked politely. It was a request to not disturb, just rephrased. The man was somewhat nervous, anxious and desperate.
"Looking for James Rodriguez. Is he there?" Asked the Old man. His voice was clear and calm. Confidence in his voice hided the microchanges in his face.
"Yes he is here sir. But may I know the purpose of this unexpected visit?" Alex enquired. The man placed a hand in his overcoat pocket and took out a badge.
Scotland Yard, what the heck did James do?
"London Metropolitan Police. A basic enquiry, not as a policeman, but as a friend." The man moved right through the door. Alex could not stop him, especially after seeing the pistol in his back pocket.
James was sipping the last few drops of his coffee. He and the man shared a gaze towards each other. None of them made any expression for the following ten seconds or so. James finally broke the silence.
"What does Arthur Whitzlock want from me?" James asked himself. A taunt to the supposed Arthur Whitzlock. This name struck Alex, a chain of memories started sparkling in his brain.
"Help. No time. Come with me, James." The old man, who was supposedly this Arthur Whitzlock, requested desperately to James. James was not interested. He was still reading the newspaper. He put his cup down and walked towards the kitchen to get a cup of water.
"Mr.Whitzlock, why don't you sit down and have a cup of warm tea....or coffee." Alex asked the man.
"No, thank you." The man looked towards James. "The police needs you James!"
James looked back in a manner similar to psychopathic way of looking.
"What do I get?" James asked. Straightforward, no either way of asking this from a man who had a pistol and that also a police. Alex troubled himself with what was about to happen next.
"Money. If you help a little, you will get money, from the department." Arthur responded. It was a deal. James was supposedly helping the Scotland Yard for money. A typical James thing, unless, he has never done it before.
"What is the job?" James non- chalantly questioned.
Arthur cast a look towards Alex. A hint to James that it was confidential. James looked at Alex, who was in confusion.
"Tell me everything, here and now. Alex, turn on the recorder." James ordered two people at once.
"Fine. It is about Mayor. He is missing, from his mansion, from the last 3 days. We have got nowhere. Mayor Abduction case."
Alex was paralyzed. Mayor was abducted? How?
"Hmm....interesting, somewhat." James murmurred to himself. "Alex, grab on the coat and some instruments. We have got an adventure." James stood up and walked towards the main gate, took on his overcoat and walked right out of the door. Alex was confused, furious, tensed, paralyzed and was suffering from an emotional shock. What in the world just happened in the last 10 minutes, is beyond his intelligence comprehension. Something big was about to happen.